Bai Shi folded his arms, deep in thought.
Where could he get more Rune Arcs?
They were directly linked to his own strength and offered an upgrade without much effort.
The arc at the bottom of his Great Rune was already more than half-formed.
He estimated that fewer than ten more Rune Arcs would be enough to complete it.
Right now, it added 6 points to all his attributes. He wondered what the limit was.
Would it be 10 points? Or perhaps higher, or lower?
He was also very curious about the additional effect that would unlock once the arc was completely filled.
The changes to the Great Rune were undoubtedly positive.
Judging by the functions it had revealed so far, the final ability after filling the arc would definitely be impressive.—
While Bai Shi was at the Divine Tower activating his Great Rune, Roderika and the others were led by Nepheli to see Hewg.
As she led the way, Nepheli told Roderika and the others about the Roundtable Hold.
Roderika listened quietly, letting out soft gasps of surprise from time to time.
The Roundtable Hold was not just magnificent; it had such a profound history.
Soon, they arrived outside Hewg’s room.
The crisp sound of hammering rang out from within, and a wave of heat washed over their faces through the doorway.
“Master Hewg, you’ve got a big job for you!”
Hearing Nepheli's voice, Hewg looked up.
Seeing Nepheli with a group of unfamiliar young Tarnished, he assumed she was guiding newcomers again.
But when Hewg looked at what they were holding, he saw that the group of Tarnished was carrying Banished Knight armor.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be the very same set he had worked on not long ago.
“Where is the owner of this armor?”
Roderika was a little intimidated by Hewg's terrifying Misbegotten appearance.
But remembering that Bai Shi had specifically told her to be polite to this gentleman, she still spoke up timidly.
“Lord Bai Shi is currently having an audience with the Two Fingers. He gave us this task, hoping you could help repair the armor.”
Hewg struck the weapon on his anvil with a heavy blow, then casually tossed it into a nearby water trough.
Having finished forging the weapon at hand, Hewg looked up and studied the group carefully.
Although he wasn't a man of many words and usually only spoke to the Tarnished while working, they never avoided him when discussing news while they waited, so he would listen in.
“Bai Shi? So that’s his name.”
“Does that mean he’s the ‘Lord of Stormveil’ who defeated Godrick, the one everyone’s been talking about lately?”
Roderika nodded.
“Yes, that’s Lord Bai Shi.”
“Hm?”
Hewg met Roderika's gaze and was suddenly stunned to discover:
She had the same eyes as the spirit tuner who had once cared for him.
Eyes of that color were the very proof of one's potential for spirit tuning.
Seeing Hewg suddenly staring at her, Roderika felt a bit flustered.
“Um, is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing, just a little surprised.”
Hewg snapped back to his senses, covering up his gaffe and continuing from where he left off.
“I knew he was strong, but I didn’t think that secretive fellow was *that* strong.”
“Bring the equipment over.”
Although this girl indeed had the potential for spirit tuning, it had nothing to do with him.
No one would want to learn from an ugly Misbegotten. There was no need to seek out that humiliation again.
Roderika didn't know what was happening and didn't dare to ask further. She had the others behind her hand the armor over to Hewg.
Among the pieces of armor were Bai Shi's and Erlisa's.
Their armor had sustained considerable damage in the previous battles against the Fell Omen and Godrick.
As for Red and Andre's Crucible armor, it wasn't included, though not because it was undamaged.
Their armor had been heavily damaged during their sparring sessions.
However, according to them, their armor contained the power of the Crucible of Life and could slowly regenerate on its own when infused with the Crucible's power.
Hewg picked up the severely damaged armor and examined it from every angle.
“The damage is severe, but thankfully, it’s still repairable.”
“By the way, help me pass a message to them. This armor's strength doesn't seem to be keeping up with their power anymore.”
“If they want to reinforce their armor, they can prepare dragon scales. They are excellent materials, and I can help forge them into the armor.”
Roderika nodded, firmly committing his words to memory.
“Also, the weapons. Lord Bai Shi hopes to strengthen the weapons as well.”
“Strengthening weapons is fine, but it requires smithing stones. He should know that, right?”
“Yes, everything is prepared.”
Three greatswords were placed before Hewg.
They were two Storm Knight greatswords and one Lion's Claw greatsword.
Except for one of the Storm Knight greatswords, which Bai Shi had newly acquired from Stormveil's storeroom, the other two had been his loyal companions since his battles at Castle Morne.
Although the two greatswords had been well-maintained, they inevitably bore many nicks and chips.
Hewg wasn't surprised. A warrior's weapons were always like this.
Those who always carried pristine weapons were mostly too scared to even fight, like that noble boy in the Roundtable Hold.
“Clatter clatter—”
Smithing stones of all sizes tumbled out of a cloth bag, covering Hewg’s table.
Hewg’s eyes widened.
“So many smithing stones... a rare sight indeed.”
All these smithing stones were taken by Bai Shi from Stormveil’s storerooms.
The various mines in Limgrave had been operating day and night, with their yields regularly delivered to the storehouse.
In the end, all these ores benefited Bai Shi.
He was the Lord of Stormveil now. It was all his property, free to use as he pleased.
“Lord Bai Shi hopes you can strengthen these weapons as much as possible. We’re counting on you.”
—
After completing their task, Roderika and the others went off to wander around the rest of the Roundtable Hold.
Everything here was new and exciting to them.
Only Nepheli and Hewg remained in the room.
Nepheli closed the door to prevent any idle Tarnished from entering.
Hewg didn't rush to start forging. Nepheli surely had something to discuss with him, so it was best to hear her out first.
“Master Hewg, Bai Shi actually asked me to give you a message, one that I was to deliver in private.”
“Oh? What is it, that it needs to be said in private?”
Nepheli stood beside Hewg and began to relay Bai Shi’s words.
“Bai Shi said that Roderika is a gentle child and probably doesn’t want to wield a sword anymore.”
“But she’s troubled because she feels she can’t be of any help to others.”
“He happened to hear that people with such turquoise eyes seem to be able to communicate with souls.”
“Bai Shi wanted to ask if you, as an elder, know anything.”
“If even you don't know, then I will go ask my adoptive father. He should know something.”
Hewg’s expression was complicated.
He didn’t know if Bai Shi had stumbled upon him by chance or had heard whispers of his past.
But either way, if the All-Knowing got involved, it probably wouldn’t end well.
Hewg had been in the Roundtable Hold for a long time, so he knew what kind of man the All-Knowing was.
There had been a few stray witches in the Roundtable Hold, but they had all gradually disappeared. Hewg always felt that the All-Knowing had recruited them... or rather, abducted them.
If this young girl Nepheli really told the All-Knowing that Roderika had the potential for spirit tuning, that girl would likely run into some trouble.
“Did he say why you shouldn't mention this in front of that girl?”
“He did. He said he wanted to be considerate of her pride, otherwise she would surely feel like she was troubling others again.”
“He doesn’t want Roderika to feel indebted, as this is just a simple favor from his perspective.”
Hewg lowered his head in thought.
“Is that so...”
“I do know a few things, but... let me talk to him personally next time he comes.”
“No, I should just ask the person in question directly in a bit.”
“Nepheli, could you help me speak with her?”
—
Nepheli found Roderika weaving through the merchants' stalls.
Everything here was new to her, and she found it all fascinating.
“Lika, can we talk for a moment?”
Nepheli gave Roderika's shoulder a couple of hearty pats.
“Yes, of course, Sister Nepheli.”
“It’s about something that might be helpful to you.”
Ever since Nepheli had protected Roderika in the city, the two had become very close.
Eventually, Roderika simply started calling Nepheli “sister,” and in return, Nepheli called her Lika.
She deeply admired the strong and self-reliant Nepheli.
Not only was she powerful, but she was also incredibly upright and forthright, inspiring an automatic sense of trust.
In contrast, she felt she couldn't do anything right.
Nepheli led Roderika to her room, which was very simple.
A bed, a weapons rack piled with axes, a wardrobe, and nothing else.
As a warrior from the badlands, Nepheli had very few material needs.
Nepheli sat down on the bed and patted the space beside her.
Roderika sat down next to her.
The bed was hard, almost like a wooden board.
“Hmm... how should I put this, Lika? It seems you have the potential to become a spirit tuner.”
Roderika blinked, a little bewildered.
“A spirit tuner? What’s that?”
“Uh, I'm not entirely sure either. It seems to be a profession that communicates with souls and uses items to help their spirit ashes gradually recover the power they had in life.”
“Such a profession exists?! This is the first I've ever heard of it.”
Roderika was astonished, and then she grew excited.
“Do I have potential for that? If it's true, even if I'm not skilled, I want to learn and train!”
‘If I can, I truly hope I can be of help to you all.’
Roderika had never forgotten the kindness she had received from Brother Hakan, Sister Nepheli, and Lord Bai Shi.
But she lacked the courage to fight and was of no use to them.
Now, with an opportunity before her, Roderika was determined to seize her future.
“Haha, good! That’s the spirit!”
However, Nepheli didn’t immediately take Roderika to see Hewg.
“Roderika, if I told you that it would be Master Hewg from just now teaching you, would you be willing?”
“Although Master Hewg looks a bit scary, he seemed like a gentle person when we talked.”
Roderika thought for a moment before adding:
“Besides, Sister Nepheli and Lord Bai Shi both interact with him, so he can't be a bad person.”
“Since you both trust him, I have even less to worry about.”
Nepheli nodded.
“I hope you don’t mind my question, but Master Hewg is a bit insecure about his origins, so I had to ask.”
“I’m glad you answered that way.”
With everything settled, Nepheli immediately took Roderika to Hewg’s room.
At that moment, Hewg was hammering away at a weapon, trying to keep his mind off the possible outcome.
He was just an ugly Misbegotten who only knew how to forge weapons. That girl probably wouldn't want to learn from him.
He might even be ridiculed—not everyone in the Roundtable Hold was polite.
Seeing Nepheli enter with Roderika, Hewg breathed a sigh of relief.
He had asked Nepheli not to bring her if she refused or had reservations about his Misbegotten status.
Nepheli, though simple and pure, was remarkably perceptive. Lies wouldn’t fool her.
Since she didn't mind, then he had nothing more to worry about.
He would teach her everything he knew. He would consider it as repaying the kindness of that spirit tuner who had once been so good to him.
—
Bai Shi sat on the throne, reviewing reports from within the city.
At the same time, he began to plan his departure from Stormveil.
He still had a promise to Boc, to help him retrieve his mother's keepsake from the cave.
When he passed by there last time, he hadn’t seen Boc, who had probably gone to look for it himself.
Bai Shi planned to set out to find Boc and fulfill this promise.
Suddenly, a figure appeared on the plaza before the throne, where a Site of Grace was located.
Roderika came running towards Bai Shi with light steps, only slowing to a halt when she reached his side.
Bai Shi had never been one for airs. He had long ago told those close to him that they could be casual when there were no outsiders around, without being bound by etiquette.
He was especially lenient with Irena and Roderika, treating them like his younger sisters.
Roderika nervously fiddled with the hem of her clothes, her excitement palpable as she chattered on to Bai Shi:
“Lord Bai Shi, I've already asked Master Hewg to repair the equipment.”
“The Roundtable Hold is truly an amazing place.”
“It's both the sanctuary of the Two Fingers and a gathering place for heroes.”
Her expression then fell slightly, for she could not see the guidance of grace.
“...It’s just that the guidance of the Roundtable Hold is too grand for me.”
“So, I was thinking, if I could do something within my power to repay you for saving my life.”
“Fortunately, Master Hewg told me I have the potential for spirit tuning. I’m learning from him now, and I’m sure I’ll be able to help you in the future.”
Bai Shi listened carefully to Roderika's words, a smile gradually spreading across his face.
Bai Shi didn’t actually need spirit tuning; even the most common spirit ashes, at their strongest, were only at the level of a hero.
He did all of this for Roderika’s sake. She seemed to be quite fond of this profession.
Although there were many changes from the game, Roderika had successfully inherited the legacy of a spirit tuner.
This was the best possible outcome.
Bai Shi reached out and gently patted Roderika’s head.
“That’s wonderful. Congratulations. From now on, I'll be counting on you to help me communicate with souls.”
“Yes! Although I'm just an apprentice spirit tuner, I’ll do my very best.”
Roderika enjoyed the feeling of Bai Shi’s hand on her head.
Looking at him, she felt an indescribable gratitude in her heart.
‘You truly look after me like an older brother.’
‘To spare my feelings, you even contacted Master Hewg secretly behind my back. You’re so kind.’
Bai Shi had contacted Hewg secretly so that she wouldn't feel any pressure.
But Hewg had told her everything, telling her that if she wanted to thank someone, she should thank Bai Shi.
Roderika silently committed this kindness to her heart.