Frilian at Elden Ring

However, out of politeness, she replied, "You are fine too, just call me Frillian."

"what!"

Upon hearing the name of the renowned figure, the young girl was slightly taken aback, involuntarily covering her mouth and widening her eyes. Could it be that she had simply encountered an important person while out for a stroll? Upon closer inspection of his attire and magical reaction, she realized it was definitely not fake.

Some portraits of the Soul King have circulated, not to mention his appearance as described in anecdotes; at least the iconic long, pointed ears and emerald eyes are accurate.

"Don't be too formal, just treat me like a traveler. Anyway, is there anything I can help you with?"

“A necklace that was very precious to me was stolen by a thug.”

Laya pointed to the house where the shrimp was cooking. "He's right there. Please bring it back for me, and I'll reward you handsomely."

"You certainly look like you come from a good family."

Frillie had seen a lot of the borderlands, so she wouldn't mistake the noble attire or the elegance she exuded in her demeanor.

But her extensive experience taught her not to believe just one person's opinion.

"By the way, the man who cooked the shrimp was also a Faded One. I don't force you to be hostile to your compatriots; a peaceful ending is best."

Let's go together.

"Actually, I'm a little scared..."

"It's okay, what am I afraid of if I'm with you?"

As they were talking, Frilian smiled sweetly, and for some reason, Laya shivered, but ultimately nodded. Indeed, the weather in Lake Lienia was a bit cold for her; she should have worn more clothes.

The two strolled leisurely side by side across the lake, and before they knew it, they were talking about why they had come.

Everyone knows the fading one's heart; she doesn't hide her goal of becoming a magic academy, but she doesn't give a definitive answer: the Great Rune can be left to the Full Moon Queen, where it will be more valuable.

Laya revealed that she comes from the Volcano Mansion and serves its master, Tanis. Her daily activities involve recruiting heroes to join her ranks, which is her duty.

It’s tricky!

This judgment wasn't just Frilian's intuition; it was also because Patch mentioned the Volcano Mansion, and anything associated with it was probably not a good place. Moreover, it belonged to the territory of Judge Lacad, one of the Shattered Kings, and the site of the most devastating battlefield in the Shattered Wars.

"Isn't it dangerous for you to travel alone?"

"Your Majesty, most wild beasts will not attack me unless they encounter me. I've been quite lucky over the years."

Laya felt the silver-haired girl give her a deep look and then nodded.

"I hope you're a lucky girl."

She changed the subject abruptly: "I've heard the name 'Volcano Residence' mentioned by an old friend. Coincidentally, he might be your colleague..."

"Who?"

"It's better for him to say it, isn't it, Mr. Patch?"

Frillie suddenly turned her head and stared in one direction. With her ever-present range of magical perception, a sneaky person couldn't hide, let alone the entire band of thieves. This guy was up to his shady business again.

Little did he know that the bald man, drenched in sweat, had somehow become the target of the hunter, the Undead, and the Faded One. What a twist of fate!

Patch scratched the back of his head, awkwardly laughed, and stood up to greet him: "Long time no see, Your Majesty."

"You've made a comeback?"

"How could I dare? At most, I'll help the nobles with some commissions. I will never disrupt the overall environment, since it's common knowledge that Lake Lienia will soon belong to your territory."

As expected of Patch, he speaks with his usual smooth tongue, and he doesn't mind flattering you as long as you adopt a humble attitude.

Unfortunately, Frilian is no longer buying into that.

"I came to the Lakelands not to bring war to anyone, but to spread the healing power of soul magic far and wide. If anyone still stands in my way, they are the common enemy of the Borderlands."

"You're right, His Majesty will surely reshape the world."

Patch's style is to make exaggerated statements at the drop of a hat. In fact, he is more convinced than anyone else that the Faded One can succeed because her previous identities have all saved the world.

The border region is even more vast, encompassing everything and possessing countless lives. What will it be like when it begins to regain its vitality?

"really?"

Laya's eyes lit up and she couldn't help but clap her hands, after all, she had heard about the deeds of the Soul King.

"I'm here to learn the Full Moon Queen's secret art of life creation. If combined with soul magic, it can not only reach a higher level, but also have the opportunity to reverse the zombie transformation and turn more lives into normal people."

After saying that, Frillie changed the subject:

"Now that I've said so much, you should also talk about the Volcano Residence."

Upon hearing this, the girl in green immediately launched into a long and detailed introduction, vividly describing the grandeur of the volcanic region.

She would occasionally answer a few questions, always with great enthusiasm, as if she had anticipated that this hero would join the Volcano Mansion's cause.

Patch, who was standing nearby, twitched at the corner of his mouth as he listened.

Why did Laya answer every question that came to mind, such as how many people she had met at the official residence, which places she was not allowed to go, and the situation of the War of Destruction? She answered almost everything within her knowledge.

No wonder.

So Frillie didn't ask him, because even if Patch answered, she would only believe half of it. Asking indirectly from the perspective of a naive young girl was more accurate, and she basically got a general idea of ​​what was going on.

"What does Your Majesty think of the Volcano Residence?"

he probed.

"Here we are."

The dilapidated house wasn't far away; it was just a short walk. There, a man in a helmet and cloth clothes sat on the ground, cooking prawns in a pot in front of him. He sprinkled in seasonings from time to time; the prawns were tender and bright red, and the bursting bubbles released a fragrant aroma that whetted the appetite.

He noticed the three leaders; the atmosphere was subtly off, and they seemed wary of each other.

Then there was a small group of thieves trailing behind. They didn't seem like good people, but they were mostly silver-haired girls. She had a fairly upright demeanor and was very strong; if she did anything, I'd be in serious trouble.

While she was pondering this, Frilian displayed a large handful of runes.

"I want to buy your shrimp at a high price to give my friends a feast, and also buy this girl's necklace that she accidentally lost."

"People who like shrimp are good people."

"Yes, I want to try it."

"As for the necklace you mentioned, it's not entirely my fault. I just felt this guy was acting strangely, so I kept a backup plan. Since you're overseeing it, let's make the deal and return it to her."

Laya smiled happily after getting her things back, and casually refuted the other person's claim that she was strange.

Both sides were happy, and the matter ended peacefully. With Frilian's generous treat and the self-proclaimed rogue's shrimp-cooking skills, they unexpectedly enjoyed a delicious meal, instantly enlivening the atmosphere.

During the meal, they exchanged names and introduced themselves, thus becoming acquainted.

Meeting in the vast lake of Lienia was truly a matter of fate.

As for their respective goals, I'll just gloss over them. Who among those who wander in border areas without a fixed abode isn't pursuing something? There are too many to count, so I won't delve too deeply into them. After all, going into too much detail might reveal conflicts between us.

"...So you're the one who seized the Great Rune of Grik, Frilian. You must be able to see the blessing, right?"

"of course."

"Aren't we both among those who have faded? Why can't I see them?"

He gave a wry smile: "It's ridiculous that a small-time hoodlum like me was directed here."

"Let's just say that the Golden Tree values ​​us."

"No, the guy who arranged this is hopeless. I'm talking about that golden tree. What do you guys think? It looks majestic, but it's actually riddled with holes."

These words silenced everyone, who couldn't help but let their imaginations run wild.

They'd seen plenty of disheartened people, but considering their backgrounds, they all seemed to be denying the prosperity of the Golden Tree. The Volcano Mansion claimed to be rebelling against the order of the Ring of Laws, while the Faded Ones believed in restoring the world with new laws. Regardless of their opinions, their actions were all forms of denial.

Most people still hold the golden tree in awe, but most have long since lost patience.

A waste.

When it really matters and we need you, you're beyond help.

Since the shattering of the Dharma Ring, the Golden Tree has lost its power, or rather, once the era of abundant harvests that no longer bestowed the grace of dew has passed, it is destined for destruction, and no one can escape its fate.

The group ate their shrimp in silence, avoiding the topic and knowing they couldn't respond to the rogue's sigh.

"...Never mind, I've figured it out. With you, Frilian, around, we should be able to repair the magic ring, and we Faded Ones won't have so many missions anymore."

"In any case, you are the faded one who is most likely to become king in many years."

The silver-haired girl shook her head: "I feel there are many conspiracies hidden in the shadows, and I can't easily guarantee what will happen when the magic ring is repaired. But that's all too far in the future. Just looking at the present: the Blessed King's army blocking the elevator won't let us pass easily."

She had been pondering this point. If the rulers of the capital were to stubbornly refuse to back down, a bloody battle would ensue at the elevator, unnecessarily increasing the cost of the expedition, which would not be worthwhile.

If possible, Frilian hopes to gain a foothold on the Altan Plateau and then find a way to wage a protracted war.

Although I'm not in a hurry, since we haven't explored the entire border region yet, I can't afford to be in a strategically passive position.

It's not too late to conquer the capital and then travel around.

"Wait a minute!"

Suddenly, Laya raised her hand and finally spoke, but choked. After coughing for a while, she swallowed the shrimp meat before her complexion improved, and then she said:

"Your Majesty, the Dikedas Elevator is old and in disrepair, and after being ravaged by the Blessed King's army, it is probably even more unreliable. The road conditions are also terrible. Therefore, please go to the Ancient Ruins Cliff first. At the bottom of the valley of the Great Elevator, there is a mining tunnel that leads directly to the Altan Plateau."

"There really is another way!"

When consulting ancient texts, Frillie often wondered why the armies from the north and south of the border area often traversed the entire territory, and sometimes elevators were not mentioned, so there was more than one road.

Now we finally have a clue, which is better than starting a full-scale war with the royal city too early.

"Thank you, Laya, this information is very important."

"When you reach the Alpine Plateau someday, remember to head west and visit the Volcano Residence."

The innocent girl extended an invitation, while Patch, standing beside her, chuckled, truly looking forward to that day. Regardless of the volcano, the moment the King's Faded Ones arrive at the Altan Plateau, it will mark the beginning of a full-scale war.

Will the border area become even more fragmented by then?

108

Chapter 108: Invading the Academy.

"But I will still find the Dikedas elevator token; it's always better to have another option."

Upon receiving the good news, Frillie's plan became even clearer. She heard that another plot of land was in the Galid region, which would not affect her itinerary, and they were immediately on the same page.