Elden Ring: My Ending

The Tarnished was fast, and Sellen knew it. Watching him cover distances in days that would take an ordinary person weeks—if not months—had only been surprising for the first few days.

Konstantin's spectral steed wasn't called the fastest mount in the Lands Between for nothing.

But what was even more terrifying was the way he somehow memorized Sites of Grace and could teleport between them with a single touch. The Lands Between had plenty of ways to traverse long distances quickly, but Konstantin had taken it further than anyone else.

And yet, even knowing all that, Sellen was still a little surprised to see him approaching just a few days after her illusion had faded.

"Wonderful," Sellen removed her crown with a smile. "You really don't like keeping a woman waiting, do you, my dear teacher-student?"

The man dismounted from the vanishing Torrent with an indifferent shrug.

"Waifu quests don't wait."

The jealous daughter of a Goddess had been right—Sellen hadn't been able to sense everything through her illusion. A construct woven from magic, after all, could only simulate sensation rather than transmit it to her real body. What she saw now with her own eyes far exceeded anything she had expected.

Power radiated from the Tarnished's body, making Sellen's eyes glimmer with intrigue. She wanted to study him—to understand how much his body differed from the other Tarnished and whether he could even be called one at this point.

If anything, Konstantin looked far more like a demigod than a man abandoned by Grace.

Or perhaps not even a demigod, but something… Beyond(1).

There was something else the exiled sorceress was curious about—how would her body react if infused with the Tarnished's energy? The illusion hadn't been able to convey the sensation properly.

Unfortunately, her body still hurt—a painful reminder that she had best not get too greedy.

Sellen was very curious who had taught Melina to hit in a way that left no bruises. That hesitant daughter of a Goddess had an absurdly heavy fist, yet could restrain herself with masterful precision.

It was, honestly, something to admire.

Hearing Konstantin's response, Sellen perked up even more. She raised a finger in mock seriousness.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear! And, by the way, you do remember what I said, don't you?"

"I'm ready for new lessons," Konstantin nodded sternly. "And I have some things to share in return."

Could Sellen be any happier?

She loved teaching. But even more than that—she loved learning. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that the path to a witch's heart was paved with magic.

And whether intentionally or not, Konstantin was walking that path confidently.

Sellen glanced toward the Gelmir Hero's Grave.

"You must already have a good idea of where I'm headed and why, don't you?" she said. "Which means you know that my business isn't exactly urgent."

She wasn't selfish enough to demand Konstantin handle her problems before his own. Even if that jealous girl showed up right now and put a stop to her plans.

Sellen had never really believed in anything—except the Stars and the magic they had brought into the world. But even she hadn't been able to avoid the feeling of hope creeping in. Before Konstantin, she hadn't believed the Lands Between had a chance. Their world was dead. No—worse. Neither alive nor dead. The only thing left for them was to chase their own goals and forget about time.

But now? Everything had changed. That neither-dead-nor-alive hope had been reborn. And in an unexpected form—a man running around completing waifu quests.

And, oddly enough, Sellen herself had become one of those waifus. She, the one who should have rotted away long ago for her crimes, had somehow gained more than anyone else.

It wasn't fair. But who had ever said hope was fair?

No. Hope had its own goals.

Konstantin stared at the dungeon—ahem, the Gelmir Hero's Grave—for a while before losing interest entirely. He'd never liked clearing repetitive dungeons, and now there was even less reason to do so. A waste of time.

Maybe, if he was really bored in the endgame, he'd come back to fight the boss.

A letter appeared in Konstantin's hand—the one Zorayas had given him.

"I want to visit Volcano Manor."

"Volcano Manor?" Sellen frowned.

The manor had a reputation. She had, of course, heard the rumors about Praetor Rykard—one of Queen Rennala's children—drowning in blasphemy, and the devoted wife who was willing to follow him into madness.

Torturing enemies to death. The lunacy of the fallen son of the Academy's Grand Master and his equally deranged woman—that was what Volcano Manor meant to Sellen and anyone with even a little knowledge of the situation.

What could the Tarnished possibly be looking for there?

The answer was obvious.

"I need to visit a waifu and defeat a cinematic boss," Konstantin answered flatly. "And then, we'll see. Don't worry, I won't drag out this quest."

Kosta frowned.

He had zero intention of doing this quest the way the game intended.

Sellen narrowed her eyes.

"You do realize we don't understand half the things you say, right?"

Kosta shrugged.

Of course he did. He just didn't care to explain most of the time.

"Such a weirdo!"

Sellen, thoroughly enjoying the Tarnished's deadpan attitude, burst into laughter—only to nearly choke from the pain. Sudden movements were still a bad idea for her. But fortunately, that didn't dampen her spirits.

Through her real body, everything felt so much more—brighter, sharper, realer.

What a shame that at any moment, a jealous servant girl could appear, and who knew what would happen then.

For now, though, she would enjoy the moment.

Kosta, watching the sorceress wince through her laughter, blinked in mild surprise.

The most terrifying thing was—he was pretty sure he knew what had happened.

But his thoughts quickly shifted in a different direction.

He really, really hoped the manor would be… emptier than it was in the version of the quest he knew. Sure, he wanted to kick a certain bandit off a cliff again, but that was something to do in the endgame, when he had more free time and was in the right mood.

And besides—it would be weird if said bandit was already at the manor when it was in a completely different part of the continent.

Of course… he could have found a way to travel absurd distances quickly, too, but…

Kosta scowled.

He had a bad feeling.

And, as it turned out, not without reason.

Volcano Manor. A place that many would, without exaggeration, call Hell—if they even had the words to describe it. Oceans of lava, a pitch-black sky, scorched earth upon which loomed a vast, foreboding estate that repelled the few visitors foolish enough to approach within cannon shot.

Unfortunately, not everyone had the good sense to stay away.

Rya remembered the strange, bald bandit. Watching Konstantin the Tarnished battle a dragon had been one thing, but the sight of Patches distracting (or rather, falling on top of) the dragon had left… quite the impression. That alone had saved the bandit when he was caught by Lady Tanith's knight.

She could only imagine the sheer terror Patches must have felt upon seeing the towering knight in heavy armor, whose sword alone was as big as the bandit himself.

"Well, well!…" Patches let out a thoroughly unconvincing laugh. "Could it be you've heard of the one and only Patches the Untethered…?"

Zorayas' pupils slit like a snake's as she gave the question serious thought.

"Never heard of you."

The massive knight took that as his cue and raised his sword in silent preparation to strike. But before the words had fully left her lips, Zorayas frantically waved her hands.

"Wait, wait, wait! I've never heard of him, but I have seen him!…"

The giant sword halted just before Patches' neck, leaving the stunned bandit staring dumbly at the knight.

"Do as your mistress tell you! Put that thing away before I get angry!…"

Rya nearly hissed in exasperation.

Has he completely lost his mind?!

A rhetorical question. While she found Mount Gelmir far less unsettling than most who still retained their sanity—considering it not the most welcoming place, but still home—she did understand that the road to said home was…

Let's just say, highly specific.

"Why are you here?" Zorayas sighed.

She certainly didn't remember giving him an invitation(2).

"Unusual goods can only be found in unusual places!" Patches puffed out his chest in mock bravado—though he quickly deflated when he caught the knight's meaningful gaze.

So expressive was the knight's silence that even through the helmet, Patches felt it.

"Ha! You thought I'd actually say something like that?" Patches grinned, his false confidence barely holding. "Of course I'm here to serve Tanith—or whatever her name is—with absolute loyalty and dedication!…"

Patches was no fool—he was a very shrewd merchant. He made a habit of learning about the big players in whatever land he found himself in. He'd heard about Tanith—or whatever her name was! In passing. Just a little.

"Lady Tanith," Zorayas corrected with a frown.

"Yes, yes…"

"Maybe I should just… you know?" The knight's grip on his sword shifted slightly.

Zorayas nearly shifted into her true form in shock.

"You can talk?!"

The Crucible Knight remained impassively silent(3).

…He never spoke.

The girl licked her lips as an intrigued hiss escaped her.

Interesting! She had to give him a chance—at the very least, she had to introduce him to her mother! Lady Tanith would decide what to do with him.

Patches, sensing he had once again survived a brush with disaster, smirked.

Once again, Patches the Untethered has slipped his way out of trouble!

Or so he thought.

Lady Tanith, though surprised by the appearance of such an… eccentric figure, did not immediately dismiss—or worse, execute—the bald bandit.

To be honest, much like her adopted daughter, she was intrigued.

"Brave Tarnished,…"

"Yes, yes, that's me!"

Bathed in candlelight, the woman thoughtfully adjusted her mask. After a brief silence, she continued in her usual composed tone.

" I am Tanith, the proprietress of this house…"

In all honesty, Patches wasn't particularly interested in hearing whatever it was this castle—or manor—or whatever lady was saying. He was far more concerned with the deeply meaningful look the giant armored knight was giving him.

He could feel the menace through the helmet!

'True terror doesn't wear heavy armor… or any clothes at all,' Patches shuddered, thinking back to his dear old friend. Yeah, sure. Friend. That's what we'll call it.

If that freak showed up, then this heap of metal would really see how one should properly instill terror.

Not that it mattered. That was impossible. They had just seen each other recently (seriously, just recently!). There was no way there'd be such a ridiculous coincidence.

The Finger Maiden who had long since lost faith in him—falling into an endless depression—had agreed to transport him to the other side of the continent. There's no way that lunatic would chase him across the Lands Between! Sure, he was insane, and Patches was a well-known figure, but that strange Tarnished was far more preoccupied with women and collecting Great Runes.

Which, to be honest, was a relief.

That meant Patches had nothing to worry about.

…Unless, of course, there happened to be a woman with a Great Rune somewhere nearby…

"…Rise with us, against the Erdtree."

Having completely tuned out Tanith's speech, Patches absentmindedly nodded along. Like hell he was going to refuse with that terrifying knight standing right there! If the guy wasn't in armor, then maybe he'd—

…Wait. Wouldn't that make him even scarier?…

'By Marika's tits, am I seriously starting to fear naked people?!' Patches mentally groaned.

"Yes, yes, of course…"

Zorayas, watching from the sidelines, carefully pretended not to notice how Lady Tanith shot her a look—as if silently asking who in the name of all the Outer Gods and whatever else above she had brought into their manor.

Still, Lady Tanith wouldn't be herself if she didn't have a certain… flexibility.

"Such a confident answer from a brave Tarnished soul," the masked woman cooed in her usual gentle voice. "The tasks will be difficult, but only a hero as courageous as you could possibly accomplish them…"

Patches, who had been subjected to every imaginable kind of insult, was now—perhaps for the first time in years—hearing someone address him with actual kindness.

The voice of the woman who had once captured the heart of the most blasphemous of lords slipped into Patches' ears like the sweetest of melodies.

In truth, she hadn't even said anything all that extraordinary—but the way she had said it…

It struck a certain chord within Patches.

And that wasn't all.

"Of course, Volcano Manor values its servants. You may settle here if your heart so desires, brave Tarnished soul. Your journey must have been difficult—to reach this place through all its dangers without an invitation must have been quite the challenge, wasn't it?…"

"I nearly died like a hundred times!" Patches exclaimed indignantly. "You've got a giant monster living on one of the cliffs! Looks like a beetle(4)!… A cosmic beetle! And it uses gravity magic! I've had enough gravity magic in my life, damn it! I barely got away from that thing!"

Not to mention the damned serpent-men, the exiled sorcerers, the raving lunatics, the bloodthirsty demi-humans, the rotting corpses, the somehow even bigger marionettes trying to slice him to ribbons, the wild animals…

And let's not forget that this was all happening in rocky, absolutely unwelcoming terrain for any regular traveler—not to mention that spiky abomination—

It was like the whole world was trying to kill him!

Patches had no idea just how right he was.

He unwittingly stumbled upon a fundamental feature of the soulslike genre.

Tanith calmly folded her hands.

"And yet, you managed to overcome every danger to arrive here. That is worthy of admiration, brave Tarnished soul."

Patches sniffed, straightening up.

"Yes! Yes, worthy of admiration! Finally, someone gets it!…"

Tanith smiled beneath her mask.

The Crucible Knight, Lady Tanith's ever-loyal guardian, scratched the side of his helmet.

It seemed they had a very unusual new resident.

Surprisingly, Patches actually settled into the manor. For some reason, Lady Tanith didn't just tolerate him—she seemed, at least at first glance, rather amicable toward him.

Zorayas, having been the one to vouch for the so-called honest merchant, spent some time genuinely confused as to why her lady had chosen to keep such a strange figure around.

But eventually… she started to understand.

"At least it's not boring," Bernahl shrugged.

The old Tarnished, once righteous and noble, had long abandoned his ideals and joined their manor. At times, Zorayas caught traces of regret on the old knight's face, but lately, he seemed… noticeably more lively.

Patches, through the sheer fact of his existence, was an irritant—one that provided a tremendous motivation to keep living. Even to those who had long since stopped being alive.

"Kill me… kill me… someone, please… u-uhhh…"

The ghost of Volcano Manor. A bodiless entity that had taken up residence in their home. They never saw it, but every now and then, strange wails echoed through the halls in the dead of night.

Ghosts were nothing out of the ordinary in the Lands Between. What was unusual was that this particular specter's voice actually reached them. It must have been in agony.

Though, sometimes, Zorayas wasn't entirely sure if the ghost's pleas were directed solely at Patches… or if he was only part of the problem(5).

Either way, the manor had definitely grown livelier, which—on some level—was a good thing. Even Lady Tanith's knight had started speaking now and then. Admittedly, his vocabulary mostly consisted of curses and barely-contained murder attempts directed at their newest tenant, but still…

At times, Rya was so bored that she began hallucinating serpent-people walking through her chambers! Ones just like her!… Or maybe slightly different, but close enough. The arrival of the bald bandit… or merchant… whatever he was—Patches, in any case—had helped distract her.

Even if he was insufferable.

For better or worse, fate had other plans for her life—and, in truth, for the entire Lands Between. It wasn't long before their manor received new visitors.

And they knew of them before they even arrived.

Perched atop one of the cliffs was a beast known as the Fallingstar Beast. A creature they never dared to approach, fearing the very thought of angering something that had fallen from the depths of the cosmos. A harbinger of broken cameras, janky hitboxes, and a massive health pool.

Like all things that stood against a sweaty Soulslike player…

It fell.

(1) Empyrean – a title one must be born with. It is believed that those chosen as Empyreans were meant to replace Marika and usher in a new age in the Lands Between. Known Empyreans include Miquella, Malenia, and Ranni. There is also mention of the Black-Eyed Queen, though, unfortunately, her storyline was ruthlessly cut, leaving even the most dedicated lore scholars at a loss.

(2) The game never explains how Patches received an invitation to Volcano Manor—or if he even received one at all—leaving plenty of room for speculation on how exactly he ended up there.

(3) The knight, an imposing figure, stands as Lady Tanith's silent protector, never uttering a single word throughout her entire questline. He will attack the player if they attempt to harm his lady.

(4) To reach Volcano Manor, the player must either accept Rya's help, get abducted by an Abductor Virgin beneath the Academy of Raya Lucaria, or somehow make it past an adult Fallingstar Beast. Just from the name alone, it's clear that a first-time player encountering this creature is in for a very bad time…

(5) In the manor, the player can find a kneeling ghost begging for Praetor Rykard to be slain. However, in the context of this fanfic, the knight's despair isn't only directed at Rykard.