"Their Majesties, there is sothing else I encountered on my journey. While not critical, I believe it is necessary to report it," Lucia said, sitting upright. "Shortly after passing through the Altus Portal, I was ambushed by Godskin Apostles in the Vanya River Valley. They were led by two Godskin Nobles, one of whom my guard has already slain."
Lucia carefully omitted Samuel's na. He could not expose the mory Battlefield, and the secret of the Gloam-Eyed Queen's consciousness descending was known only to those in his inner circle.
The living room fell into a suffocating silence. Even the usually serene Miquella looked up in shock.
To the gods of the Golden Dynasty, the term "Godskin Apostle" was a forbidden ghost. While the Unification War was a sweeping triumph, it was the century-long War of the Gods that truly cented Marika's rule. After the ancient overlords—the dragons, the giants, and the Storm Dynasty—had exited the stage, a brutal conflict erupted between candidates for godhood.
The Gloam-Eyed Queen, wielder of Destined Death, had been the nightmare of that era. Her Apostles harvested the lives of gods like autumn wind through dry grass, fashioning their skin into battle robes and spreading the Black Fla. The slaughter only ended when Marika's shadow, Maliketh, defeated the Queen and sealed Death away.
Now, those blood-stained shadows had returned. And their first move was an assassination attempt on an Ancient Dragon Demigod.
"You child..." Marika sighed after a long silence. "Why are you only ntioning this now? Are you injured?"
"I am fine, My Queen," Lucia smiled. "I assud they were rely remnants. After such a loss, I doubt they will surface again soon."
"Audacious cultists!" Radagon barked, his hand slamming into the armrest. "To strike so close to the Erdtree is a provocation the Golden Order cannot ignore!"
His perfect face was distorted by a cold, righteous fury. Lucia was surprised—Radagon hadn't been present during the War of the Gods, yet he seed even more enraged than Marika.
"Marika, we must investigate this," Radagon said, struggling to compose himself. "This is an insult to the Order."
"Agreed," Marika replied. "I will appoint Chief Sirius to handle this with full authority. Every force in the Dynasty is at his disposal."
Lansseax caught Lucia's eye and nodded. "The Ancient Dragon Temple will provide all necessary support to the investigation."
With the Queen's promise of protection, Lucia felt the tension of the last few days finally begin to lift. Mobilizing the Golden Dynasty was the most effective shield he could ask for. If he could settle into the capital safely, he could finally begin researching his Dragon Bloodline Inheritance and the secrets of the analysis system.
The rest of the night drifted into small talk. Lucia told well-tid jokes that made Malenia giggle, her bright smile masking the fact that she had been fighting the Scarlet Rot only hours before.
But just as the banquet was ending, a priestess in white silk entered. On her chest hung the emblem of the Two Fingers.
Lucia's instincts flared. In his past life, he had handed the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni a hundred tis; he had always kept his distance from the Greater Will. These priests were the voice of a cosmic power, and they had the right to walk anywhere in the palace.
"Her Majesty Marika, His Majesty Radagon," the priestess bowed. "Lord Finger has received a new Oracle."
Marika's expression shifted. "We are ready to listen."
A sacred vibration filled the air. A cross-shaped Golden Seal erged in the center of the hall, pulsing like golden blood vessels. Out of the light, the outline of the Two Fingers solidified.
Lucia's scalp went numb. These weren't the damaged, stationary Fingers of the Roundtable Hold. These had a stony luster like dragon scales, wore robes of gold thread, and—most terrifyingly—stood on legs of condensed light.
He wondered if the Greater Will had sensed his "otherworldly" soul. His muscles tensed, dragon scales ready to erupt through his skin. He was a heartbeat away from dragonizing and tearing through the palace walls.
Suddenly, a soft, small hand grasped his. He looked down to see Malenia leaning over from her wheelchair.
"It's your first ti seeing Mr. Two Fingers, isn't it? Don't be afraid," she whispered. "They are... good people."
Lucia looked into her red eyes and felt her warmth. The panic receded. He forced a smile and exhaled. "I see."
"We are ready to hear the Divine Envoy," Marika said.
The Two Fingers bent slightly in a bow. Then, a voice as llow and heavy as an ancient epic echoed through the hall.
"The Greater Will has always watched the Lands Between," the voice said. "It does not ignore any devout subject. Before humans held the Elden Ring, the Ancient Dragons were its most loyal defenders. The Greater Will is pleased by the birth of the Dragon Prince."
The Fingers turned to face Lucia.
"The legacy of Halaris and Placidusax has a successor. Therefore, it has been decided: Luciassax, son of Halaris and Placidusax... you shall beco the fourth Empyrean under the Golden Order."
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