Elden Ring: Atai vows to have a perfect ending

"The source of magic is the human heart."

"Disciple, your friend can't change back to his original appearance. Maybe it's because he doesn't want to change back?"

The words of magic teacher Se Lian gave me an epiphany.

After taking a short rest at the blessing point in the basement of Posthouse Street, I called Torrett and left in a hurry.

At the end of sunset, half of the sky was already covered with a deep dark blue.

Taking advantage of the night when the cavalry had not yet taken up their posts, I drove the Toretto along the eastern slope of Lake Yaquir, crossed the short bridge, and found the grove where Burke was hiding.

Burke, still in the form of a bush, also murmured in the same way as before: "Hey - passerby, please help me."

"Hey, Burke! I'm back!" I walked up to him excitedly and greeted him.

The little shrub suddenly shook violently. Was it scared by me?

"This, this voice, oh, is it the Lord Faded from last time?" Burke also recognized me. "I'm glad you're safe after being away for so long. I thought you were in some trouble."

Well, I did run into some trouble though.

"I have good news to tell you, Burke. I know why you can't solve the magic!" I kept it a secret for a while.

But I didn’t expect the little shrub to tremble again and again: “Fade, Master Fader, please show mercy.”

In this case, shouldn't you happily ask me why?

Was the shadow left on him last time so big?

"Don't worry, Burke, I won't do anything to you." I said with a smile, "After all, the real reason lies in your true thoughts!"

"What do I really think?"

"That's right!" I recalled the scene in the Ring of Magic game. It went alone to the coastal cave where it and its mother once lived. As a result, it was brutally attacked by the demihumans inside and almost died.

Considering that Burke in the real world is so timid, I'm afraid the runes in his body are not even enough for him to bless and revive, which means he has only one life like me (after all, it's the same in the game).

A combination of various factors led to the situation that, although Burke verbally thought that he must return to the cave, where the treasures that were robbed from him and left by his mother were, he was too afraid to move forward and was unable to change back to his original appearance.

Burke himself probably didn't realize this, which is why he asked passers-by for help in confusion.

I simplified the reasoning a bit and told the other party.

Perhaps because he was surprised, Burke was silent for a long while before he stammered, "... So that's how it is. Thank you for telling me, Lord Faded... Oh, so that's how it is. I didn't dare to take action, so I became like this... Mother, what should I do?"

"Don't be afraid, Burke!" I patted my chest confidently, "I will go back to the coastal cave with you and help you get your mother's treasure back!"

“Eh!” Burke was obviously startled, and the whole tree was shaking violently. “But, but, Lord Faded One, there are many cruel guys living in that cave... Especially my two former leaders, they are so strong that they can tear lambs into pieces with their bare hands!... I, I am not doubting your ability, kind-hearted Lord Faded One, but I, I am really not worth your risk.”

Come to think of it, the Coastal Caves are indeed a place of suffering for newbies in the early stages of their development.

Although the overall difficulty of the monsters is not high, the difficult part is that in the BOSS room, there are not only two BOSS demi-human leaders, but also countless small demi-humans who will circle around A-ti and come up to chop him from time to time.

——Group fighting is the greatest justice in the circle of justice!

Fortunately, Miyazaki had a change of heart and set up a good brother who could be summoned - the "ancient knight" Ishtopia, who was also a top-notch taunt master.

Perhaps, we can first find that Faded Senior and go to the cave together... Or, I can bring some more companions with me?

An idea suddenly came to my mind, and I patted my chest confidently again: "It's okay, it's okay. I have thought of a way to deal with it! Besides, I just happen to have to go to that cave to take care of some small matters."

"Yes, really?"

"So, don't be afraid, Burke! Change back to your original appearance, and let's go get what's ours together!"

I spoke with great passion and ambition.

Even Burke shook the branch slightly: "... Well, my feet seem to be numb. I still can't move."

······I feel like there is a crow flying over my heart, screaming.

"what--"

"You, what are you going to do, Lord Fader?!"

"Of course I'll massage your feet and pull you out!"

"Ah - it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, that's my waist! Lord Fader! My waist is going to break."

"Damn, your fear is really deep-rooted!" I gasped and rubbed my palms. "But I still don't believe it!"

bass!

"You, did you draw your sword? What are you going to do? Lord Fader!"

"Keep your feet down!" I thrust my sword into the ground, then dug up a handful of dirt with all my strength, repeating this over and over again. I didn't believe that I couldn't pull out this coward like you.

"Forget it, please spare me, Lord Faded." This guy Burke actually started begging.

I shouted at him, "But do you think this is really okay? Burke! If you are really so afraid of the demihumans in the cave and dare not face the powerful leader, then why are you still begging for help?!"

"I······"

"The treasure left by your mother must be very important to you! Even if you compare it with your life, you still want to take it back!"

"・・・"

“...To be honest, I’m also a coward! After I left here last time, I met the Night Riders, Bloody Fingers, bandits, and crazy pumpkin-headed soldiers! They were all very powerful, so powerful that they almost killed me!... This made me extremely afraid of death, just like you, and I didn’t dare to take a single step.”

"Lord Fader, will you do the same?"

"That's right! No matter who you are, it's the same in the face of death. After all, when life ends, there's nothing left." I sighed with difficulty, and then continued to shovel the soil. "But death is inevitable. Even in this blessed world, or anywhere else in the universe, there is no such thing as something that will not die in the true sense."

"······Why are you afraid of death? Isn't it because there are still some dreams that you haven't achieved or done before you die, so you long and pray for more time, more time!······In that case, why not pursue what you really want in your limited life?! Are you timid and cowardly? Complain about yourself? In this way, when the real death comes, you will be like this bush now, and be suddenly cut into two pieces by others. Will you not regret it? Burke!" I almost shouted loudly.

These words were not only spoken to Burke, but also to myself, to myself who was still confused and afraid. I was roaring and venting like this.

——Yes, Burke is me in the past!

“······I·····I don’t want to either····”

"So, admit it, Burke! In your heart, the treasure your mother left you is so important that even on the scale of life, you will lean towards it! ... Then, take action! After all, some things can only be obtained by trying your best!" I swung the sword hard again to shovel the soil.

Suddenly, the breeze blew up a cloud of dust around me, and a very thin sub-human figure that looked like a puppy suddenly appeared in the dust.

"Ahem, Burke?"

“······Oh, Lord Fader, oh, thank you so much.” Burke hunched over the ground, his back trembling slightly. “You’re right, I·····I really don’t want to let go of that thing. After my mother passed away, it has been with me like a mother·····I don’t want to, I don’t want to reach the real death you mentioned, and still not be able to get it back, at least·····”

"So, didn't I tell you? I will help you." I squatted down and patted Burke's shoulder.

Burke raised his head, tears already streaming down his cheeks: "Oh, oh! Lord Fader, thank you so much, thank you so much!"

“You’re welcome.” I scratched my head in embarrassment, “Don’t make me say such a long paragraph of immature words again in the future.”