Elden Ring : a Tarnished of No Renown

(!) IMPORTANT (!)

To readers who have been following me since the start, this is NOT a new chapter, don't waste your time reading it if you have read the first few chapters before I edited them.

I reformated the earlier chapters into shorter versions in order to better sort out the pacing and the content of the story. Don't worry, you won't miss out on anything because I didn't add in new stuffs.

I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience caused.

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[Sigurd's POV]

I followed the mud road upwards, and although I was ambushed by a few godrick soldiers on the way, they were total pushovers. Everything was smooth sailing by that point.

But my smooth journey came to halt when I encountered a place.... A place that appears to be the ruins of a village lying in the middle of a junction. This road that I was following leads to that junction, to continue down this path I'll have to go through the ruins.

"Hmm...."

The ruin isn't an issue, what's the issue is that I saw on the inside a bunch of godrick soldiers... Almost an entire platoon of soldiers, numbering between 10 to 20.

My club may be strong, but fighting more than three of them at a time is much more than I can handle.... My only option is to of course go around them, just like I did with the Tree Sentinel.

Without a map or the Guidance of Grace, I'll only be able to rely on my general sense of direction to guide me towards that castle. If my assumption is correct, this cliff to my left should be the place I need to head to.

I sneaked around the ruins carefully avoiding all of the guards and headed westwards, towards what appears to be a gate built in the mouth of a valley.

I could see that the path inside that valley leads uphill, it's the right way. And right beside the gate is another Site of Grace.

"Oh sweet...."

Truth to be told I had been worried because I didn't find anywhere that is safe for me to rest in. To see a Site of Grace here of all place is relieving to me....

It took my nearly an hour and a half to make it all the way here by foot, fighting off a few soldiers and wolves in the process. I was tired and battered.

This means that it's time for rest! No more walking today, only sleeping and relaxing around until tomorrow. I need all my strength back to face Godrick the Grafted after all!

I sat down at the Site of Grace, putting down my things on the floor to sort them out....

'Fwuom...' Suddenly, a blue aura manifests out of thin air right before my very eyes.

The aura particles formed into the shape of a person, and soon materializes them into this world. Despite wearing a cloak, I could see the slender figure of a woman underneath. She looked oddly familiar.

One thing is for sure however, she's not hostile.

"Greetings, traveller from beyond the fog. I am Melina."

"The name's Sigurd. I trust you know who and what I am, but this also means you know that no one would just randomly show up right next to a Tarnished. What can I do for you, lady?"

"I have but one simple thing to ask of you.... I offer you an accord."

As Melina said those words, she sat down at the Site of Grace as well.

"Interesting, I don't think I've done anything deserving of a deal but.... what accord?"

"Have you heard of the Finger Maidens? They serve the Two Fingers, offering Guidance and Aid to a Tarnished. But you I am afraid, are maidenless."

"Well you weren't the first to say that to me.... Your point being?"

"I can play the role of a maiden, turning runes into strength to aid you in your search for the Elden Ring."

Wait.... what? I thought Finger Maidens were one of a kind for each Tarnished, and that when yours were killed you won't ever have another?

"You.... So you're a finger maiden who's Tarnish'less huh? Hahaha, I like that!"

"....."

No reactions to my joke? Meh, how boring.

"....So, what do you need in return then?"

"I do not ask for much, you need only take me along with your journey.... to the foot of the Erdtree at the Royal Capital Leyndell. Do you accept this accord?"

I may be dumb but even I know that you can't just randomly find a Maiden on your journey.... It must be Marika's Grace that guided her to me, no doubt about it. Might as well accept it, if it's presented to me on a silver platter.

"I do. Become my maiden Melina, I need your help."

"Then it is settled...."

She pulls her cloak down, revealing the pretty face of a young woman with pink'ish hair. What caught my attention however is the mark on her closed left eye.... A rather odd looking tattoo, which likely isn't there just for aesthetics.

But nonetheless, Melina's shoulder hunched down, a sigh of relief came out of her mouth.... She lowers her guard, and finally speaks to me in a less polite manner.

"However I can't help you in your battles, for I lack a physical body. It is only with the help of Grace that I can summon myself into this world temporarily, in other words I am but a spirit conversing with you."

"And that's why you can appear out of thin air like that? I know that Tarnished can teleport between sites of grace but this is the first time I've seen someone else do it."

"I see. Outside of now, I will remain in my spirit form until it is necessary for me to play a role. Will that be fine for you, Sigurd?"

"Of course, I can handle all the fighting by myself.... Speaking of which, how can you help transfer my runes into power?"

"You need only summon me by a Site of Grace, I can help perform the act for you."

"Won't it be troublesome for me to just call upon you whenever?"

"That is.... oddly considerate of you. But fret not, because it is part of the responsibility of a Finger Maiden. If I do not fulfill the end of my bargain then surely it'd be the utmost disrespect to you...."

"A person of manners you are, a rare sight in the Lands Between nowadays.... Say, may I ask for it then?"

"Hmm?"

"May I have a glimpse of this power of yours? I want to see how it feels to convert what little runes I have now into strength.... into power."

"Very well." Melina says, as she leans closer to me. "Then let my hand rests upon you.... for but a moment please."

I reached out my hand to her, where she held it with her own.

It was then, it felt like something had suddenly flooded into my mind.... A sense of nostalgia. It was a piece of memory, but I can't recall it immediately.

"Now I can feel your spirit, your soul.... Share with me your runes, as well as your ambitions and your ideals. I will help shape the better you from that image."

"I see...."

A better me huh...? Someone better than me.... someone like Godfrey.

"Ah... Just as I had thought." She said.

"Excuse me?"

"Ahem.... Pay it no mind. There, it is done now."

"Huh?"

"Your runes, I've already converted them into power, tying it to your very soul itself."

"So.... Am I stronger now?"

"Indeed you are."

"It certainly doesn't feel that way.... but if you say that it is, then it must be. Thank you."

"Hmm. Ah, there's another matter. I bequeath to you this ring...."

She took off a golden colored ring from her index finger, and handed it off to me.

"This is?"

"This is a ring that upon which you whistle with, will summon a spectral steed known as Torrent. Torrent has chosen you, treat him with respect, don't mistreat him."

"I see.... Let me try it."

I tried to put the ring on my index finger, but it was just too small to fit.

"...."

"Be not afraid to put it on your ring finger.... For this is out of necessity, I will take no offense from it."

"I-I see.... Excuse me then."

There was no need to make this awkward, idiot me.... Just because I put her ring on my ring finger doesn't mean I'm married to her.

Once I had put on the ring to my left hand, I blew a whistle using my fingers "Beep!" and immediately, another blue aura formed right before me.

What came after the aura is a horse.... Or a deer? It was a white haired steed that looks like a horse, but had small horns on his head. A creature that I've not seen before.

"This is Torrent, my companion and a friend that I've been with since long ago." Said Melina.

"Hush..."

"You are a healthy horse huh...? I'm certain that Torrent will come in handy during my travels, thank you for gifting him to me."

"It is just part of the accord, Sigurd. Now that I've said all that I need to, I shall take my leave now...."

"Wait, aren't you coming with me to the Erdtree?"

"Like I said, I do not have a physical body. Maintaining this form takes a lot of focus, and drains me of my stamina.... Even as we speak, I am getting more and more fatigued."

"Oh, I see.... Then don't be afraid to just go back to your spirit form, I don't have anything else to ask of you."

"Very well. But before I leave, I should point out one more thing.... Inside the ruins down the road that you just came from, there is a stone tablet which details everything in this area called 'Limgrave'. You may find it helpful to note down the useful landmarks and locations of each area, maybe even sketch it onto a piece of paper to use as map.

That's all I have to say.... for now. Farewell to you, Sigurd."

"Farewell to you as well, Melina. I'll look into the map later."

Before I noticed it, Torrent had disappeared as well.

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While I'm sure that Melina is telling me the truth, there is one paradox to the things that she told me....

If she can stay in her spirit form without costing extra Focus or Stamina, why not just travel to the Erdtree in that form then?

But it feels rude to call her out on this so for now I'll just keep quiet about it, until we are comfortable enough with each other then I will ask her about it.

After all, we are still total strangers right now, we know next to nothing about each other.

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Upon seeing me riding into their camp on Torrent, the Godrick soldiers started to chase after me like dogs.

But Torrent is fast, out running these idiots in matter of seconds. We went into the camp for the map, got it and then hauled ass out of there without any issues because of how fast Torrent is.

"Hahaha, you're incredible Torrent! You left them in the dust, they are already gone!"

"Hush...." (An exhale of pride)

(Chapter End)