Git Gud Or Die Trying #44

Adrian summoned Torrent, his faithful steed, a cascade of blue particles coalescing into the majestic horse. With a swift leap, he mounted Torrent and set off toward the hanging bridge. The rhythmic beat of hooves against the rugged terrain filled the air as they approached the bridge, its weathered planks beckoning them forward.

As they crossed the bridge, Adrian felt the sway beneath him, a testament to the bridge's age and fragility. He maintained his focus, guiding Torrent firmly, ensuring their safe passage.

Once across, the landscape shifted before them. Rocky terrain stretched before them, scattered with patches of hardy grass that fought to survive amidst the desolation. Adrian urged Torrent onward, deftly maneuvering the steed through the treacherous terrain.

Jagged rocks threatened to impede their progress, but Adrian's skilled command of Torrent allowed them to leap over the obstacles gracefully. Each jump filled the air with a symphony of hooves meeting stone, echoing through the rugged landscape. 

As they emerged from the rocky expanse, a more open area came into view. In the distance, the figure of a ruined church stood, its crumbling walls a testament to the passage of time. The golden branches of the spectral Erdtree loomed high above, casting an ethereal glow upon the scene. Its presence was awe-inspiring, evoking a sense of both melancholy and wonder.

Adrian guided Torrent toward the ruined church and soon reached his destination, dismounting with a purposeful stride. His gaze shifted to the spectral figure seated on a chair, clutching a book in its translucent hands. He approached cautiously, his footsteps silent on the worn ground.

Reaching out, Adrian gently touched the ghostly figure, its form cool and insubstantial beneath his fingertips. In that instant, the figure stirred, its spectral essence flickering with renewed energy. The ghostly being, once dormant, seemed to come alive, ready to share its secrets.

And then, in a voice that carried the weight of ages, the spectral figure spoke, its words hanging in the air like a haunting melody. "The mausoleum prowls. Cradling the soulless demigod," it intoned, its voice filled with an otherworldly resonance. "O Marika, Queen Eternal. He is your unwanted child."

With those words, the spectral figure dissolved into the ethereal mist, having served its duty.

"Oh... now that I think about it..." he muttered absentmindedly, a faint glimmer of recognition in his eyes. "That weird walking building thingy should be prowling somewhere around these parts..." 

"Oh well... I don't have the energy or the will to entertain that level of weirdness for now..." With a nonchalant shrug, Adrian stepped into the crumbling interior of the small church, its decaying walls standing as a testament to the passage of time. The air was thick with the scent of dampness and decay, lending an eerie atmosphere to the space.

His gaze settled upon Marika's statue, a weathered depiction of the fallen queen. With purposeful steps, Adrian approached the sculpture and reached its base. There, nestled within the aged stone, he retrieved the golden cup filled with Sacred Tears, its gleam undiminished by the ravages of time.

Stowing away his prize, Adrian left the statue behind and made his way toward the Site of Grace, located at the center of the ruined church. Sitting down upon the worn stone, Adrian called out Melina's name. The air shimmered with a soft blue glow, and Melina materialized beside him, her form ethereal yet comforting.

A solemn aura enveloped the surroundings as Melina settled opposite Adrian at the Site of Grace. "Are you prepared to hear the echoing words of the Queen Eternal?" Her question hung in the air, anticipation building between them. Adrian nodded, his gaze fixed upon Melina, ready to hear the words of Queen Marika.

"Very well," Melina responded, her voice carrying a weight that seemed to transcend the mortal realm. "In Marika's own words..."

Melina's voice began to shift as she spoke, growing distant and ethereal. Adrian's surroundings blurred, and his consciousness seemed to travel to another realm or perhaps another time. When his sight cleared, he found himself standing within the hallowed walls of the Church of Pilgrimage.

Before Adrian stood a breathtaking woman with long, flowing blonde hair, intricately braided and cascading down to her knees. Her regal presence mirrored the statue of Queen Marika, exuding grace and power in equal measure.

The woman reached out her hand, her slender fingers gracefully wrapping around a stone hammer that shimmered with a radiant golden light. The hammer resembled a mace, its intricate design and divine aura captivating to behold.

As the woman held the shimmering hammer high, her voice carried an air of solemnity and purpose. Her words seemed to transcend the confines of the empty church as if directed at a specific someone beyond the physical realm.

"Then, after thy death, I will give back what I once claimed," she declared, her voice determined yet tinged with longing. Though she stood alone in the church, her words held a weight that echoed through the sacred space.

"Return to the Lands Between, wage war, and brandish the Elden Ring," she continued, her voice growing more assertive with each word. The hammer she held radiated an even brighter light as if imbued with the very essence of her proclamation. 

Adrian felt his consciousness drift beyond the confines of the church and the towering Erdtree. It transcended the golden capital nestled at the roots of the tree and soared above the snowy mountain peaks that loomed in the distance. The fog that enshrouded the Lands Between parted, revealing a desolate wasteland where countless warriors clashed in an eternal struggle.

The woman's voice reverberated in Adrian's mind again, resonating with unwavering determination. "Grow strong in the face of death, warriors of my lord. Lord Godfrey..."

As his consciousness settled upon the chaotic battlefield, Adrian beheld a hulking figure with white hair, a braided beard, and a spectral, ashen lion stuck to his back. This formidable warrior wielded an enormous axe, each swing cleaving through enemies with a devastating force. The ground shook with each step he took, the fallen foes surrounding him serving as a testament to his prowess.

Adrian watched in awe as the warrior, Lord Godfrey, exemplified strength and mastery in the midst of the relentless battle. His every movement exuded purpose. His eyes though dim, were resolute and unwavering. And with every foe falling to his blade, the dimness in his gaze diminished.

Miraculously, Adrian's gaze locked with Lord Godfrey's. He could sense a connection, an unspoken understanding that transcended the boundaries of time and space. It was as if the warrior could peer into his soul, acknowledging his presence with a knowing glance. 

The spectral lion on Lord Godfrey's back, its ethereal form shimmering with power, turned its majestic head towards Adrian. It opened its maw wide and emitted a fierce roar that echoed through the depths of Adrian's being.

The resonating sound reverberated in his ears, jolting him out of the vision and back into the reality of the ruined Church of Pilgrimage. Cold sweat trickled down Adrian's forehead as he wiped it away, his heart still racing from the intensity of the encounter. He took a moment to collect himself, allowing his breathing to steady as he tried to make sense of what had just transpired.

"Well... this raises more questions than answers, but I'm starting to see pieces of the bigger picture..." Adrian muttered, his voice filled with a mix of intrigue and frustration. The vision he had experienced lingered in his mind, leaving him with a sense of both enlightenment and uncertainty.

Ever the enigmatic guide, Melina responded to Adrian's muttering with her ethereal voice. "Queen Marika's intentions are obscured by her own wisdom," she stated, her voice carrying a weight of reverence and respect. 

"You'd do well not to assume too much. The eternal queen is a divine being, the mother of the demigods..." Melina'swords hung in the air, filling the chamber with a sense of awe as her form dissolved into shimmering blue particles. 

Adrian was left to contemplate the significance of his encounter. The vision, words, and presence of Marika—it all pointed to a profound purpose, a destiny intertwined with the very fabric of this world.

First, he witnessed her banish Godfrey and his warriors beyond the fog long before shattering the Elden Ring. And now he saw her again, calling out to them with words that were filled with belief and encouragement. 

She didn't seem to hold the tarnished in low regard. On the contrary, she seemed to have high hopes for them, especially Lord Godfrey. But if that were the case, then why did she banish them in the first place?