The Reaper stood atop the cliff outside of Stormveil, staring at the ginormous marsh-lake ahead of him.

Liurnia, where the next Shardbearer, Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.

And speaking of Moon, the Reaper and Melina turned to their left to see Blaidd and Ranni stood, staring at the dull engraving on the Reaper's chest.

"What a spectacle of the ages. Such a beautiful fight that changes the tides of history itself. The first Tarnished to claim a piece of the Elden Ring since the shattering. Your name shall be remembered for a long while." Ranni complimented.

The Reaper shook his head with a sigh.

That probably means I'm going to be hunted just as he was. Elden Lord is a competition... a race. I'm simply in the lead." The Reaper replied.

"Well, any additions to the team?" Blaidd asked.

Melina quickly glared at Ranni with skepticism, wondering what she'd gain from such an alliance.

"Your suspicion is warranted. I definitely intend to use your Tarnished for thine own gain, but in return he'd receive my strongest companion and a witch with knowledge over cosmic arts." Ranni bargained.

The Reaper brought his hand to his chin as Melina crossed her arms, side/eying him for such quick contemplation. There was nearly no hesitance at all.

"Sure. I'm sure Melina can keep me on a tight enough leash not to get manipulated too much." The Reaper shrugged.

Melina smirked, before slowly starting to blush at the phrasing.

Blaidd couldn't hold his laugh, and Ranni shook her head in amusement at the thought as well.

"I didn't realize this partnership was so intimate. We don't mean to intrude, but we accept your welcome nonetheless." Ranni smirked.

"...look at what you've done!" Melina grabbed the Reapers collar and shaking him.

"What? I know you'll protect me." The Reaper smiled before thinking about what he said. "Well... that works too, I guess."

The Reaper laughed making Melina sigh and unhand him with a glare. Ranni smiled at the lighthearted feel despite what he had done. The path he set for himself was tasking, and he had only taken one step— he'd yet to even walk.

"It's gonna be real tense when we have to use the Roundtable Hold..." The Reaper realized.

"Well, we shouldn't have to return for now. Unless you can think of any business there?" Melina asked.

"Honestly..." He held his chin once more, looking stressed.

The awaited in concerns, but they instead were concerned when he staggered on his feet and collapsed to his knees.

"...a nap." The Reaper put his hands down, nearly ready to pass out, but Melina shook her head and pulled him up by his waist, holding him like a sack.

"Well, where should we meet morrow, new companions?" Melina asked as the Reaper groaned.

"There's a merchant down the hillside, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind, as long as we give him business." Blaidd suggested.

"We'll arrive no later than midday. Farewell." Melina waved with her free hand, before disappearing in a golden ray of light.

•

The Reaper had to wake himself up and hold himself high as he arrived at the Roundtable Hold.

Immediately upon his arrival, everyone within the guild felt a pressure unlike any other. It was a clear presence of divinity, and it was coming directly from the last person they expected.

The Reaper arrived with crossed arms, Godrick's Great Rune engraved on the flame on his chest.

The sheer volume of the silence produced by his arrival spoke for the shock, disbelief, fear, and respect.

The first Tarnished in years was the first to claim a shard of the Elden Ring. He was the first to make progress.

While impressive, it was also inspiring.

'If he could do it, then couldn't we?'

The Reaper and Melina walked through the Dining Hall and straight for Erin. The woman's shock turned to smug pride as the Reaper stopped at the counter.

"Right on the money, I was. Just look at you. Almost have the urge to call you a man instead of kid." Erin mused.

"Won't be long. One night." The Reaper set down the cost on the counter, nodded, and walked away with Melina in tow.

"Yeah... that's a man alright." Erin said with more than just pride.

•

The Reaper was crashed on the bed of their room with a groan. Melina was laying up against a pillow, stroking his hair as he laid his head on her lap.

"Relatively a good start, Reaper. Save for the lack of... him living." Melina commented.

"Well... he didn't seem like he would've been cooperative anyway, but he easily could've ran his castle without the Great Rune..." the Reaper sighed and closed his eyes at her warmth.

"I forgot to mention," Melina began, making him open his eyes again, "Thank you for the save in my time of need. For someone of his massive stature, I didn't expect him to be that agile." Melina mused, smiling down at him.

"Well, if anything, I'll be faster than anyone if it means protecting you." The Reaper chuckled and closed his eyes again.

Melina shook her head, continuing to play with his hair as he hummed in bliss.

"You know, you aren't gonna convince them we aren't very intimate like this." The Reaper noticed, turning up to look at her

"It sounds like you said stop?" Melina raised her hand with squinted eyes.

"No ma'am." The Reaper pulled her hand back down.

"As you were." Melina smirked, making him turn his head back.

~•~

The Reaper yawned as he laid on a branch of a tree, Melina sprawled on top of him as the two waited for Ranni and Blaidd.

The two much closer after fighting for their lives against a Demi-god, and so the bonds they shared were much more...

"Visible." Ranni mused one of her four arms on her hip.

She stood under the tree with Blaidd towering behind her to block the majority of the sunlight. She couldn't wait to tease the Maiden of her very forward relationship with the Tarnished.

"My lady, I'm sure we should keep our relation much more cooperative. Butting heads with his Maiden may hinder this." Blaidd suggested.

"I know that more than enough, but I must find my fun somewhere. I've yet to see his progress so I can't gaze into his astral presence yet." Ranni was rather bored in her tower, so their progress alone was the most entertainment she had seen in awhile.

The Reaper rose an eyebrow, having never been asleep simply listening to their conversation.

The pair had been there for several minutes, and all of which he had been awake for.

"That mean you want us to spar again?" The Reaper asked, making the two dart their head up in surprise.

The Reaper's voice woke up Melina, and she rose her head to see he was looking down. She followed his gaze, and slowly directed her attention to the witch down below.

Melina began to glare as Ranni began to smile smugly.

Melina huffed an put her head back down into his neck.

"She'll rue that prideful smirk one of these days." Melina simply returned to her position to hide her embarrassment, simultaneously stapling the assumption of their relationship.

"Ah, apologies newest companions. But alas I don't believe the spar should be with my dearest shadow. Rather, someone of similar craft and skill." Ranni began.

"In what regard?" Melina asked, still hiding her face.

"The Astral regard. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon." Ranni replied.

"Spar the next Shardbearer?! Would they... be sane enough to even consider it that?" The Reaper asked in doubt.

"I think you'll find her sanity a cut above the others. Her views revolve around a spectacle she's yet to witness. That being you, of course." Ranni explained.

"She's waiting for me?" The Reaper's doubt increased.

"I'm sure she'll understand what she must do when she sets her sights on that which you hold..." Ranni made sure not to specify his scythe.

"Well, I assume that's first on the list of things we have to do?" The Reaper probed.

"The most important, for sure. While you are doing this, Blaidd and I will further advance our plot to unlock your true potential— but to see it, you must see Rennala." Ranni smiled, holding her jaw with innocence.

"And what does your plot to 'unlock his potential' entail...?" Melina asked.

"Why the very reason I ask for his help." Ranni's smile faded. "Starscourge Radahn. I need him to relinquish his control over the stars. I believe that, will unleash the power within him." Ranni elaborated.

"Starscourge?! His NAME is Starscourge and you want me to kill the guy?!" The Reaper asked, sitting up— much to Melina's disdain.

"I believe in you." Ranni seemed to shrug softly.

"That..." The Reaper closed his eyes as he thought about the faith others have put in him. He wasn't sure what made him special, but if others saw it, he felt it right to give him the all they expected. "...is reassuring. Thank you."

"Ah, well, it's my pleasure. You are shaping to be the greatest weapon ever forged." Ranni nodded rapidly.

"No longer reassuring. Never give a compliment again." The Reaper hopped down with Melina disappearing and reappearing beside him when he landed.

"Not my forte, Tarnished. You should taketh what they can receive." Ranni shrugged once more.

"Pardon her, Reaper." The Reaper looked to Blaidd for more, but: "Oh, that was all. There's no real excuse for her behavior." Blaidd chuckled.

The Reaper and Melina shook her their heads before sighing as the four took off.

•

A familiar head of blonde hair gazed at the courtyard of Stormveil after the events of last night. With twitching hands, shrouded with golden electricity. The fuming merchant that The Reaper had crossed paths with had finally had his confidence crushed.

Dain paced forward, past the courtyard and into the first room further into the castle, Godrick's throne, the disheveled state of his lord's palace only fueling his hatred.

"This day seemed far beyond my imagination. A demigod felled by that naive boy... the same one I gave such kindness for his actions. He betrayed that kindness. He gave his word..." Dain scowled at the throne, before sending a devastating kick to the already damaged structure.

The throne crumbled, and Dain brought his hand to his chin in impatient thought.

"If he can fell a Demigod... I, too, must be capable of doing so." Dain deduced. "I'm a devotee through and through, so... it pains me that I must pledge my loyalty to another, my lord. May you forgive me, but know I betray in good will. I will avenge you and your legacy..." Dain balled his fists as he walked back outside, staring up at the Erdtree with boiling hatred.

"One way," His hands began to spark light electricity, but soon caught on fire. "Or another."

His disdain turned to confidence once more as the flame flared a certain hue...

•

The Reaper was walking through the marshlands of Liurnia, clearly discontent with how murky the water was. Blaidd's armor was much less effected, so he was unbothered by it, and the weight on his shoulders.

Ranni sat atop of his shoulders, eyes closed but her expression smug as can be.

Melina had her legs around the Reaper's shoulders arms crossed over his head and side-eying the Witch.

"Tensions high, huh." The Reaper began, starting small talk with his new half-wolf companion.

"That they are. Their quarrels are sure to get a chuckle out of me. It's refreshing to see my lady so lively. I'm glad." Blaidd replied.

"I'm just glad there's someone to check her." The Reaper smirked as he jabbed his thumb towards Melina.

Melina pulled the Reaper's hair and Ranni lightly plucked Blaidd's ear.

"OW— wait— why's that all he gets?!" The Reaper asked.

"Does thy body look fit to dish suitable punishment like your barbaric maiden?" Ranni asked with a straight face.

"Touché."

"You choose not to deny the implications that I am barbaric?" Melina asked with a glare.

"I'm getting a concussion from your thighs, so no, not only will I not deny it, I welcome the force of the great barbarian." The Reaper rose his hands and held thighs to keep her stable.

"Your punishment later will be long and painful." Melina muttered, but the Reaper shrugged.

"I look forward to it," The Reaper smiled.

Blaidd chuckled like he foresaw, and brought his hand to his mouth with a smile. "Quite the bunch we are. I'm sure this journey will be spectacular." Blaidd smiled back.

"That, I can guarantee." The Reaper replied, staring up at the Erdtree.