Elden Ring: My Ending

In the Lands Between, there weren't many left who hadn't at least heard of Kosta. You'd have to try really hard to avoid hearing about the Tarnished whose strength surpassed that of demigods. The bearer of three Great Runes, the one who, with high probability, would soon become the next Elden Lord.

And Tanith was no exception. She couldn't be. By the time Rya first told her about the half-naked madman, he had already claimed his first Great Rune. That alone was enough for Volcano Manor to welcome him with open arms.

His second Great Rune, obtained in record time, made him even more valuable. Tanith even considered sending her adopted daughter out again to seek the Tarnished and invite him back. From Rya's stories, he seemed to be surprisingly kind to her.

But there was a disconnect—Tanith and Konstantin lived with entirely different perceptions of time.

The woman had only just begun considering her plans when another rumor reached her—Radahn had fallen. And the same lunatic had been the one to defeat him.

Needless to say, this madman became the last person Tanith wanted to see at her manor.

Like an uncontrollable force of nature, he tore across the continent, collecting Great Runes, and something told her he wasn't going to stop.

And her suspicions were confirmed.

"Well, well, if it isn't Konstantin the Tarnished," Tanith said, offering a polite, if slightly strained, smile behind her mask. Yet, her voice betrayed not even the slightest hint of unease. "Welcome to Volcano Manor."

Kosta nodded curtly, his helmeted gaze meeting the hostile glare of the Crucible Knight.

Hostile, yet eerily composed.

Kosta frowned, feeling an inexplicable urge to fight the knight. It almost felt like a challenge. Frankly, he wasn't opposed to crossing swords with this brute—someone who, once upon a time, had nearly locked him inside a damn boss arena.

Unfortunately, they still hadn't added an option to explain an accidental death of the woman who devours her defeated husband(1).

Tanith, noticing the tension between the two men, exchanged a glance with Sellen, who was smiling in amusement. For a brief moment, there was mutual understanding between them.

"I see you've brought a companion," the former dancer continued.

"Sorceress Sellen, Lady Tanith," Sellen introduced herself with a slight bow.

"Sellen?" Tanith repeated with mild curiosity. "I'm certain I've heard that name before."

Praetor Rykard was one of Queen Rennala's sons—formerly of Raya Lucaria, an academy that was practically a city yet for some reason still called itself an academy. Naturally, Tanith had heard quite a bit about it. The name of the exiled sorceress was at least familiar to her.

However, she didn't dwell on it. The academy had produced many notable sorcerers over the years…

"I'm pleased to hear that, Lady Tanith," Sellen said with a pleasant smile.

She could have said that she had heard things about Volcano Manor and Tanith as well, but she kept quiet. Not that she feared anything while standing next to Konstantin, but…

Let's just say he had a knack for ruining relationships all on his own.

Meanwhile, Tanith's knight and the Tarnished continued exchanging unfriendly glares.

The Crucible Knight gestured toward the exit, silently offering to "discuss" things more directly outside.

Kosta narrowed his eyes. Of all the things he'd expected from this questline, the Crucible Knight being this aggressive wasn't one of them. Sure, Kosta wasn't exactly a beacon of humility, but this was the first time someone had openly threatened him so boldly.

It made him very interested in meeting Godfrey's people up close(2).

"We'll settle this after the quest is over."

The Crucible Knight, taking this as a direct challenge, instinctively raised his blade, but Tanith swiftly intervened.

The last thing she needed was her manor being reduced to rubble.

"There's no need for fighting. Especially not with such a renowned Tarnished," Tanith said, her voice even. "Rya spoke highly of you. 'A noble but strange warrior'—that's how she described you, I believe."

She allowed herself a soft, affectionate laugh.

From somewhere near the doorway, a faint, embarrassed hissing sound could be heard.

Everyone, everyone, collectively pretended they hadn't noticed.

This questline, it seemed, had already gone completely off the rails.

Kosta barely refrained from shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

"I was invited by a waifu. I couldn't refuse."

Tanith tilted her head slightly, studying him, as if trying to read anything from his expression—only to be met with a solid wall of stoicism.

Is he somehow connected to the Crucible Knights? Tanith wondered, glancing at her ever-stoic knight.

"So, you came here because of Rya?"

"The waifu was the main reason, but that's not my only purpose."

He really enjoys tormenting people, Sellen thought, casting a sidelong glance at him.

The hissing behind the door grew slightly louder.

Once again, everyone collectively ignored it.

Volcano Manor was full of secrets, and this just became one of them.

"And what is your second reason?" Tanith asked, a hint of genuine curiosity creeping into her voice.

She prided herself on understanding people. And not people, too. The only one who could ever truly deceive her senses was her own knight. She knew he was loyal, but reading his emotions—when he had them—wasn't always easy.

…Though, with the recent arrival of Patches, it had certainly become much easier. That alone had earned the bald rogue a few points.

And now there was another lunatic, hiding his emotions behind an infuriating mask of indifference. Just like her knight! She'd known him for gods-know-how-many years, and she still didn't even know his name!

"I want to fight Praetor Rykard."

Kosta's words landed like a meteor from Astel.

A growl, deep and guttural, rumbled from the Crucible Knight's throat—a sound not unlike that of a dragon's. The air turned suffocatingly heavy, thick with tension, making it seem like a battle was inevitable.

Sellen blinked in mild surprise. She hadn't expected the conversation to escalate like this. But in a way… it made sense.

This was Konstantin the Tarnished, after all.

She barely stopped herself from grinning.

An illusion could never capture the thrill of experiencing moments like this in a real body!

"…You want to fight the Lord?"

Konstantin turned to see Rya, who had stepped forward at last. She looked utterly shaken, as if the ground beneath her feet had crumbled away.

Honestly, the sight of a betrayed waifu almost made Kosta falter—but…

His commitment to completing quests his way, even when they contradicted one another, was stronger. The path to good waifu endings was paved with suffering and trials.

…Honestly, he'd much rather just be stuck retrying bosses than dealing with all this.

"You wish to challenge the Lord?" Tanith repeated, her voice unreadable. "That is possible."

"Lady Tanith?!" Rya gasped.

"This desire is worthy of respect," Tanith said quietly. "A warrior and sorcerer as mighty as you, Konstantin the Tarnished, has earned that right. But first, please, be our guest at the manor. You did come to see my daughter, didn't you?"

Kosta shrugged.

"Yeah."

He had expected exactly this response from Tanith(3).

"Excellent," the woman smiled. "In that case, welcome, Konstantin. You must be exhausted after defeating the Fallingstar Beast. We are grateful that you have rid us of such a dangerous creature."

For some reason, Kosta had the distinct impression that the Crucible Knight grimaced under his helmet, as if he had been about to go into the fight himself. Any second now, he'd probably sprout those "angelic" wings(4)—or whatever they actually were.

The Tarnished allowed himself a grin, the kind only an over-leveled summoned phantom could give, completely ruining their summoner's sense of accomplishment.

The Soulslike community could be both the most united and the most bitterly divided. The legends of the toxic, sweaty Souls veterans were many.

The Crucible Knight, somehow picking up on the exact spectrum of emotions radiating from the Tarnished, let out a deep, guttural growl—barely restraining himself from attacking the lunatic only out of respect for his lady.

'He's not as emotionless as he seems,' Tanith noted, observing the silent exchange between the two men. "The drawing room is further down the hall. Rya will take you there and give you a key—make yourself comfortable."

Tanith then turned her gaze toward a bewildered Zorayas. Realizing she had zoned out, Rya hastily nodded.

"U-understood!.."

The lady of the manor then unexpectedly turned her attention to Sellen.

"Of course, I am also pleased to welcome you, sorceress. Make yourself at home."

"Thank you, Lady Tanith," Sellen replied with a broad smile.

Tanith's demeanor stood in stark contrast to the rumors that had reached Sellen.

And that only convinced her further that, without the Tarnished, she wouldn't have dared approach this manor within a comet's distance.

Inside Volcano Manor, a somber yet strangely celebratory atmosphere reigned. Enormous, sparsely populated, with only a handful of servants still present—though they were mindless, merely repeating the tasks assigned to them in life, mechanically tending to the estate.

"It may be a little dark and damp, but you'll get used to it quickly!" Rya called out as she led them.

'A little?!' Sellen mentally screamed. 'It's practically a snake's den, not a manor!'

The place completely lived up to its reputation.

Rya, lost in thought for a moment, suddenly smacked her forehead.

"Please don't go upstairs without an escort. Inquisitor Ghiza likes to rest there—sometimes he doesn't distinguish between friend and foe, so please be understanding(5)…"

Sellen blinked, glancing toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

Konstantin, however, didn't even look surprised—just nodded. Unfortunately, his composure didn't last long.

A familiar scream echoed through the hallway.

Charging down the staircase they had just passed, Patches bolted past them, followed by none other than Inquisitor Ghiza—who was cackling madly, swinging a massive spiked wheel attached to a handle.

Within seconds, their figures disappeared into the shadowy corridor, and silence returned.

A frustrated hiss escaped Rya's lips.

"I told him not to go upstairs alone!…"

Zorayas, having lived in the manor since childhood, never noticed the oppressive atmosphere that loomed over it. If anything, the dampness and darkness brought her a sense of comfort—a feeling of home.

Konstantin, his expression unreadable, stared at the space where Patches had just fled.

'This is the curse of all Souls players,' he closed his eyes in resignation.

Soulslike games wouldn't be themselves without Patches. He had even been in the long-forgotten Demon's Souls! Dark Souls II didn't count.

Kosta sighed. He would just have to accept the near-omnipresence of the bald bandit as a fact of life.

A cursed fact.

The drawing room Tanith had mentioned was not empty. Unlike the rest of the manor, it was surprisingly warm and well-lit. Perhaps that was why it wasn't completely abandoned—at least here, there was a hint of life in the otherwise lifeless estate.

"Konstantin the Tarnished?" A man extended his hand. "It's an honor! I am Bernahl. A Tarnished, like yourself."

Konstantin shook his hand.

"The honor is mine."

He had learned much from him(6).

Bernahl let out a hearty laugh.

He hadn't expected the Tarnished, who had so quickly made a name for himself across the Lands Between, to know who he was. Even though the world had mostly emptied, the continent was still vast enough that countless warriors were simply forgotten. In a world where true death did not exist, there was no worse fate than to be lost to memory.

The sheer amount of cut content in Elden Ring was terrifying. And the DLC had only made it worse…

Rya, watching the friendly conversation between Kosta and Bernahl, barely held herself together. She still couldn't fully believe that he had come to challenge their Lord. The last thing she wanted was for either of them to die.

But then again… she hadn't heard much about Praetor Rykard. And she had certainly never seen him…

This was all so strange. Too strange.

And the worst part was—she had no idea how to even approach such a delicate subject.

Rya was about to speak when the door to the drawing room suddenly slammed open, and a panicked Patches burst in, throwing the door shut behind him before leaning against it.

In the distance, faint, crazed laughter echoed away.

"By Marika's rounded blessings…" the bald bandit groaned, sliding down the door. "These fanatics… they never let up!"

Just as Patches was about to sigh in relief, his gaze landed on Konstantin—whose expression was darker than the night.

His eyes widened in horror.

"You have got to be kidding me! Oh, damn it—this is impossible…!" Patches' face twisted in disbelief before he forced a strained grin. "Ahh, my friend! I'm so glad to see you! Well, I have urgent business—goodbye!"

Springing to his feet as if he had been struck by lightning, Patches threw open the drawing room door and bolted down the dim corridors of Volcano Manor. There were plenty of other empty rooms he could hide in!

Somewhere in the distance, a spectral, exhausted wail drifted through the manor.

"…kill him… kill him… uuuuu…"

Sellen, silently observing the chaotic scene, glanced at the flickering candlelight in the room.

'What a strange place.'

Konstantin, whose composure had once again severely suffered thanks to Patches, stood motionless for a moment, staring at the door.

Then, finally, he turned toward a startled Rya.

"Let's go."

"Huh?"

That thought seemed to hit both Sellen and Rya at the same time.

The Tarnished had no intention of delaying his quests.

Stepping into the dimly lit hallway, Kosta narrowed his eyes, scanning his surroundings. Rya and Sellen followed close behind.

"K-where are we going, noble Tarnished?"

"Konstantin. Just Kosta," the Tarnished grumbled out of habit. "Looking for a hidden passage. Aren't you curious about those strange noises you've been hearing?"

Zorayas's pupils narrowed.

"Noises..?"

The manor was much larger than he remembered. He doubted he'd find the passage he needed without tearing the place apart. And even then, he had a hard time picturing what exactly the hidden area beneath the manor would look like.

It might take days—if he planned to keep things quiet and not resort to outright destruction. Which was why he needed to start now.

After all, he still had to time his meeting with Alexander just right to receive the most valuable treasure ever to grace the Lands Between. An artifact of immeasurable worth, a symbol of power and prestige…

That looked like a completely ordinary and insignificant piece of junk.

Kosta's eyes gleamed with determination. However, his thoughts were quickly derailed.

"By the way. Where's Diallos?"

Rya tilted her head in confusion.

"I… don't know who you're talking about, Konstantin."

Kosta frowned. He remembered the guy's questline but honestly had no idea how his actions might have affected it. Maybe it just wasn't time yet…?

Then again, before leaving, he had instructed the sorcerers at the Academy to help the knight's servant. Could that have changed something?

It looked like he'd need to make another courtesy visit to Raya Lucaria.

The Tarnished sighed.

The half-dead Lands Between, when you really looked at it, was a bottomless pit trying to tear apart any unfortunate soulslike player who dared venture too deep.

"You'll have to show me how you create your illusions," Kosta declared firmly.

Maybe he would have to stretch himself thin with all these tasks. If he needed extra stats, he'd just grind for them.

Sellen's eyes gleamed with an intensity Kosta had rarely seen.

Rya, seeing the downright terrifying expression on the sorceress's face, took a step back.

The next few days were spent searching—until finally, they found the passage they were looking for.

Upon seeing Volcano Manor, Melina immediately tensed.

She knew who was imprisoned within its depths. And even more so, she knew why her chosen one had decided to venture there.

She had been away for just a few days, and that was more than enough for him to get himself tangled in yet another catastrophe terrifying even to the demigods.

The girl sighed, adjusting her hood.

"Could you stop appearing so suddenly, witch?" the false Finger Maiden grumbled in irritation.

"…," Ranni pretended not to hear Melina's complaints. "Sellen has been surprisingly patient and methodical in her teaching. Even I find her magic lessons to Konstantin… interesting."

"What?!"

Melina instinctively snapped open her cursed eye, frantically looking around—but all she caught was the fading shimmer of a starlit afterimage.

Ranni had fled. The smug witch had escaped without explaining anything!

She had been away for just a few days, and Ranni hadn't helped her at all!

(1) After Rykard is defeated, the player can find Tanith devouring his remains. A single accidental hit will kill her, which then triggers a fight with her knight—who will not stop hunting the player even after his death. The player respawns at a Site of Grace, only to find the very same enraged knight waiting for them.

(2) It is known that some Crucible Knights swore loyalty to Godfrey, the first Elden Lord, in order to survive when the old order fell. With the collapse of yet another era, they were left without purpose once again—though this time, they had some semblance of choice. In a way, Crucible Knights became mercenaries.

(3) After Rykard's defeat, Tanith states that she is grateful to the player, as the Tarnished's victory proves the Lord's weakness.

(4) Crucible Knights can manifest golden wings on their backs. Notably, they do not resemble dragon wings but instead take on a more "classic" angelic design—something that has caused endless headaches for poor lore scholars.

(5) If the player ventures to the second floor of Volcano Manor, they can encounter a hostile phantom—an Inquisitor.

(6) In the game, Bernahl is a merchant who can teach the player various Ashes of War.