Elden Ring: The Light Beyond Grace Chapter 56 56: Shackles of Snow, Chains of Gold

Lucian mulled over his idea, the notion growing more tempting with each thought. Out in the Lands Between, one needed more than strength — one needed influence, allies, a faction of their own.

Leyndell, the Royal Capital, had no shortage of knights, gargoyles, tree spirits, and even avatars of the Erdtree. The Academy of Raya Lucaria brimd with enchanted puppets and scholars well-versed in sorcery. Stormveil, though weakest in comparison, compensated with well-stocked war machines and endless ranks of foot soldiers.

Even that sly fox, Preceptor Seluvis— maintained his own network of agents in the shadows. If they could maintain such power bases, why couldn't he?

The prisoners locked away in Erdtree's hidden gaol were no common criminals — each had been cast into the abyss for cris so great that only the most remote and warded cells would do. They were dangerous, yes, but they were also… exceptional. Warriors of rare skill, each wielding their own unmatched techniques, hardened by unyielding resolve and iron endurance.

Excluding those already bound by loyalty — the Troll Knights who served Caria, the maddened would-be lord Roundtable Knight Vyke, and the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil skulking in his cell to avoid Blaidd — most of the others might be coaxed into joining his banner.

If any proved too wild or treacherous to ta? Well… they could be cut down later.

But that was for the future. Not every cell would hold soone like Elyssa, whose long life had kept the rot of undeath at bay. More often than not, the prisoner within would be little more than a mindless corpse.

For now, his mind returned to the battle just past. Against Elyssa, he had finally mastered the arts of the storm — and by mirroring her spinning strikes, he had polished his own Lion's Claw technique.

The Storm Kick still bore flaws, but having successfully executed it once, refining it further would co quickly. The promise of learning her Ice Storm was an even greater prize. And then there was Radagon's Scarseal…

Just the thought of lodging that thing inside his flesh made Lucian grimace. Thankfully, a talisman pouch could spare him the trouble. But where to find one?

In the ga, one ca by default, and another dropped from the Grafted Scion at Stormveil Castle. Here, he had neither — and he didn't even know if that monstrosity still lurked there.

If it did, killing it would grant him one pouch. But one was hardly enough. The ga allowed for four; here, he might as well aim for ten, and stuff them all with damage-reducing talismans until he was practically damageproof.

Talismans, he recalled, were sewn into their pouches by the Finger Reader Crones. Surely they had more to spare. Perhaps he could persuade one… or rob another Tarnished.

Lucian shook his head, banishing the dangerous thought. No. If they don't trouble , I won't trouble them. Even here, I won't throw away my bottom line.

—

He and Elyssa reached the church gates. Unlike the others he had visited, this one was guarded — two headless spectral soldiers stood watch.

They were but lowly Mausoleum Soldier. Lucian didn't even have to raise his blades; Elyssa stepped forward and struck them down with practiced ease.

"Strange ones," she remarked.

"How so?"

"No heads. Yet they keep their spectral form — and can still be struck by steel."

Lucian crouched over one of the fallen, studying the crest on its armor — the bell of the Mausoleum. Combined with their headless visages, their identity was clear to him: they were the knights who had served Godwyn the Golden in life, and in death had followed him still.

Their lord's soul had perished, but his flesh lived on. These soldiers, by contrast, had discarded their flesh in death but kept their spirits, forever guarding the body of the prince they had sworn to serve.

Rummaging through their remains, Lucian found several black feathers, out of place against their armor. They weren't ornantal; they must have served so purpose he couldn't yet guess. He pocketed them and stepped inside.

This church was larger than the others he had visited, its hall shaped like an L. Turning the corner, he ca upon a towering statue of Queen Marika.

A search of the area yielded another Sacred Flask. Three now in total — his healing was far stronger than before. But with so many Tarnished in the Lands Between, the rest would not be so easily claid.

Though even lowly agents had flasks here, the ans by which they obtained them remained closed to him. He had no wish to serve the Two Fingers for such gifts, so the Flasks and Crystal Tears he knew the locations of would need to be claid quickly.

His thoughts were broken by Elyssa's voice.

"You wished to ask sothing. If I know it, I will not hide it."

He had many questions — too many to choose from. Best to begin at the start.

"My questions are many," he said. "Let's start from the beginning. Who you were… and why you were imprisoned."

Elyssa nodded.

"My people have lived upon the snowfields for generations. We are a folk who revere ice and snow, and have ever been enemies of the Fire Giants. The war never ceased — until Queen Marika herself sent word, offering alliance to end the Giants once and for all.

"We accepted gladly. I was summoned for the first ti then, as the strongest of my tribe. She gave that Seal, promising us a place in the new age under the Erdtree.

"They say such Seals are given by the gods to mark one chosen for a divine mission. But it was all a lie.

"With the Giants destroyed, the Age of the Erdtree began, and we enjoyed its favor — for a ti. But when Godfrey defeated the Storm King, when the ancient dragons made peace with the Erdtree, when Caria wed Radagon, the Lands Between were unified under the Erdtree's rule.

"It was then that I was summoned a second ti. But this ti, I was subdued — and sealed in the gaol."

Lucian frowned. "Why? Why imprison you, rather than kill you? There was no need to keep you alive."

Elyssa was silent for a long mont before shaking her head.

"…I do not know. I have wondered at it, but never found the answer. In ti, I ceased to think on it. One cannot guess at her mind."