Elden Ring, my witch is a talkative beautiful girl

The girl's sobs were intermittent. Melina stopped in front of the church. The familiar experience brought her thoughts back to the past many years ago.

On an afternoon when flowers were in full bloom, a young apprentice shrine maiden sneaked out of her room and met a younger sister who was of the same age as her but whom she had never met before.

……

In the royal city of Rodel, the royal courtyard beneath the golden tree.

The red-haired girl leaned against the back of the wheelchair. Because her brother and teacher went upstairs to attend a meeting to discuss her illness, the girl had a rare moment of alone time.

Anyone who has seen the girl in the courtyard will inevitably be left with an indelible impression, because her limbs and hands and feet from head to toe are all shining with metallic luster. They are metal prosthetic limbs specially made for her by royal craftsmen.

Everyone knows that Queen Malika and her second husband, Radagon, gave birth to a pair of demigod siblings. Born demigods with immense power, they also bore an unfortunate fate.

The elder brother Michaela is forever young and can never grow up; the younger sister Malenia is chosen by the Outer Gods as a parasitic host, with crippled limbs and the Scarlet God of Corruption sealed in her body.

Unfortunately, in this moment of tranquility, the disease that had tormented her for several years once again struck at the right time.

"I actually...had to have an attack at this time..." Marenya gasped rapidly, covering her heart with her hands, and beads of sweat the size of beans slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the mud at her feet.

She tried her best to suppress her pain, but this time the corruption disease came more violently than before, and the pain from her internal organs almost destroyed the girl's will.

A red Ionian butterfly gently flapped its wings and landed less than half a meter in front of the red-haired Malenia. She gasped in pain, and the madness and rationality surging in her swallow-like eyes competed with each other.

One was urging her to reach out and crush the Ionian butterfly to death, to witness its only beautiful withering in its lifetime; the other was struggling, following her teacher's teachings, trying her best to maintain her self-awareness.

As time went by, the balance between the two was gradually broken, madness took over, and her fragile sanity was like a small boat in the stormy waves that could sink and capsize at any time.

Just as Marennia's rationality was about to be devoured by madness, a graceful figure stepped into the courtyard with a swift breeze, facing the gorgeous sunlight. "Ah~ I didn't expect there would be someone other than me here at this time. Which classroom did you skip class from too?"

Melina's light voice startled the red butterfly resting on the pistil and also grabbed the last bit of consciousness of Malenia who was about to fall into darkness.

"Who... is it?" She uttered two words from her throat in a daze.

"You're asking me?" Melina tilted her head and thought for two seconds. "Just call me the passing apprentice shrine maiden 'Meimei'. Mom won't let me reveal my true identity to others, saying it will cause unnecessary trouble."

She leaned down and got close to Marennia: "Let's not talk about me. You look like you're in a lot of pain. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Stay away from me... I don't need any help!" Marennia's voice was low and hoarse, and her face was distorted by extreme pain.

Controlled by the scarlet corruption, she would unconsciously harm all life that came near. Since the corruption hidden within her erupted, many people's attitudes towards her have changed. Servants have become increasingly cautious and shunned her. Her mother's gaze has become more complex, and her father sighs more often than before.

For several years, only her twin brother Michaela and the teacher who taught her the art of flowing water swordsmanship were by the girl's side, looking at her with the same gaze as before. Only the sleeping potion specially prepared for her by her brother could help her survive her worsening illness.

"Oh, that won't do. You look so grim. I can't just ignore you." Melina had always been helpful. She was stubborn and naive, never asking for money. She would always help an elderly person who had fallen on the street. If they tried to blackmail her, she would charge them with a crime and beat them to a pulp.

"Give up." Marenia suppressed her pain and persuaded him again, "Leaving here...it will be good for both you and me..."

But Melina had no intention of leaving. After pondering for a few seconds, she suddenly clapped her hands. "Ha, I got it! Mom taught me a little song from her hometown a few days ago. It makes you feel warm all over. It will definitely ease your pain."

After saying that, Melina cleared her throat and hummed a sweet song.

"Twinkling in the night sky, the distant golden stars, just like what I saw in my dream last night, the same color as the birds. On a sleepless night, I hum a nursery rhyme all by myself, and along with the passing breeze, I fly into the sky carrying my longing..."

The gentle melody of the nursery rhyme brushed against Marennia's heart like a breeze on a midsummer night. The branches of the golden tree towering above their heads trembled slightly. She was surprised to find that the scarlet corruption wriggling in her body had miraculously stopped invading and returned to silence.

Volume 2: The Flowing Stars: Chapter 46: Sisters and Promises (Part 2)

"The corruption can actually be suppressed by singing." Marenia looked incredulous. "Not even my brother can suppress it to this degree. Who are you?"

Doubt, surprise, curiosity...

There are a large number of Holy Tree Knights and Golden Knights on duty and patrolling outside the courtyard. Marlenya doesn't understand how the apprentice priestess who calls herself "Memei" entered the courtyard, and why she has such magical powers?

Even if they swear allegiance to "Two Fingers", students studying at the Miko Academy should not have such great power.

The only explanation she could think of was that Meimei discovered a loophole in the knights' patrol and sneaked in, but that would require amazing skills and excellent stealth ability. Only her swordsmanship teacher, Liushui Swordsman, had ever done something similar.

It would be an exaggeration to say that a witch could do this.

"I told you my name, Mei-Mei--" Melina drawled, forcing a funny smile, "but you haven't told me your name yet."

Hearing the evasive tone in the witch's words, she also straightforwardly announced the name of the demigod that would be known to everyone in the future: "Marenia, my name is Marenia."

"Marienia? So you're the little sissy's sister!" Melina patted her head affectionately, instantly closing the distance between them. "You're much more handsome than him, and you don't talk in roundabout ways like him. Dealing with that sissy is exhausting."

"Don't talk about my brother like that!" Marlenya stood up suddenly from the wheelchair in excitement. She was not yet proficient in walking with her prosthetic limbs and almost fell to the ground.

Michaela is her faith and support, and she will never allow anyone to slander her brother in front of her.

"Be careful!" Melina quickly grasped the agitated Malenia and helped her back into her wheelchair. "You're weak, so try to avoid strenuous exercise. I won't say anything more. But the name Malenia sounds so long, so I'll just call you Mama... That's not a good name either. I'll just call you Lianlian, it sounds better."

"Lianlian..." Marennia frowned slightly, somewhat unaccustomed to being addressed like that. The doting look in the other person's eyes was quite similar to that of her brother. "Although I don't know how you got in, it's best to stay away from me. Getting involved with a monster like me will only bring you misfortune."

A cold rejection is her way of expressing kindness. No one knows when the scarlet corruption in her body will come back. She is used to distancing herself from others before losing control and hurting others.

"You are not a monster, and you will not bring misfortune to anyone!" Melina widened her eyes and stared into Marlenya's fiery red eyes.

"You don't understand," Marenia retorted. "The corruption in me is incurable! My all-powerful father can't do it, and my all-knowing mother can't do it either. Only my brother and teacher are willing to stay by my side."

"You said it yourself, you're just sick!" Melina responded, "There's always a cure for any illness. Until Michaela finds a cure, I'll do my best to help you."

The witch raised her right hand: "Come on, let's make a pinky promise."

"Hook?"

"Haven't you heard of it? This is an ancient ritual used to make a pact between two people."

Melina extended her pinky finger and hooked it around Marenia's. "We have a deal. I will never call Lianlian a monster. If one day you can no longer suppress the crimson corruption within you, I will rush to your side and help you find yourself again."

Although it was a playful ritual among children, the witch's attitude was serious. Her pure and sincere emotions shocked Malenia's heart and made her want to believe what Meimei said.

"Dang——dang——dang——"

The loud bell from the distant tower rang three times in succession, indicating that the lunch break at the Miko Academy was about to end and the afternoon classes were about to begin.

And a certain trainee witch who had sneaked out had to go back to report for roll call. She had skipped classes too many times and her credits for this semester were already in jeopardy. Even if she got full marks on the exam, she would still be reprimanded and have to repeat the grade.

"Lianlian, remember to keep my coming here a secret and don't tell anyone else. Next time you come to the royal city, wait for me here. I will definitely come to see you." The sense of majesty faded away, Melina threw down these words and hurriedly left the courtyard.

In the empty courtyard, the young Valkyrie looked down at the pinky finger she had just used to make the pinky promise, and murmured to herself, "Promise...?"

……

After that meeting, Michaela brought her sister to the royal city many times to discuss ways to treat her with her parents.

Whenever Malenia was alone in the courtyard, Melina would come on time and hum songs to ease her pain.

It was not until Michaela developed a method to suppress the Scarlet Corruption that Malenia formally became the disciple of the Water Swordsman, practiced the Water Bird Swordsmanship, spread her wings and flew into her own sky.

The little secret gathering between the two girls in that courtyard came to an end.

More than a decade later, when Melina was still hidden in the royal city and unknown, the name of the Valkyrie Malenia had spread to every corner of the border area.

However...

The lost promise, the witch with a mission ultimately failed to fulfill the promise she made to her sister that day.

When she was finally able to leave the royal city and set out on a journey to find the Faded One, too much time had passed since the Demigod War in Ionia. Malenia had disappeared, and the road leading to the Sacred Tree of Mikaela was completely closed. There was very little new information about the two of them, and she had no idea where to start.

Time passes, and now fate once again gives Melina the opportunity to choose.

The witch sang softly, and the gentle melody entered the church. The song of the night soothed the pain and calmed the mind, and the painful groans in the church disappeared.

But the glory spread by the golden tree is too far away from here, and the effect of singing is not as great as before. After all, this is only a temporary solution that only treats the symptoms and not the root cause.

"Buddy, let's go." After a long moment, Melina stopped singing and turned back the way she came. "Let's go find that suspicious old man and get some information. It's just like finding a needle in a swamp, so it's easy for us."

"Okay." Ah Tui nodded and followed.

There was no need for unnecessary questions or to get to the bottom of things. He would agree without hesitation to whatever Melina wanted to do.

At the edge of the cliff, the footsteps of the two people became farther and farther away.

"What was the name of that beautiful song just now? Why have I never heard you sing it before?"

"It's a song my mother passed down to me. I just remembered it. Next time I have the chance, I'll sing it to you separately."

Volume 2: The Flowing Stars: Chapter 47: The veteran’s heart never surrenders!

Inside the dilapidated house, A Tui and Melina returned here again and stood in front of the old man on the recliner.

Gwei narrowed his eyes and smiled, looking calm as if he had foreseen this situation. "Gentlemen, I can't believe we meet again so soon. Are you willing to agree to the request of this poor old man?"

Ah Tui replied: "The conditions remain unchanged. We agree to your commission."

Gwei asked slowly, "I'm curious, what made you change your mind?"

"The reason isn't important. What's important is that we'll help you find that needle and get it to someone who needs it." Melina said firmly, getting straight to the point. "Now, could you please tell us where you lost the needle? You don't want to waste your time saving lives on meaningless questions, do you?"

At this moment, Millicent is still silently enduring the pain brought by corruption in the church on the mountain. She doesn't have the time to chat with the old man here.

"Oh my! Young people are always hot-tempered. They're out and about and they're inexplicably mad at old people," Gwei complained, intentionally or not. He figured the temperature was about right, and the witch might put a knife to his neck if he continued. So he said calmly, "The place where the golden needle was lost is in the center of the lower reaches of the Ionian Swamp. There are some corrupt knights who used to serve the Valkyrie wandering around that area. Maybe we can find some clues from them."

......

The Honorable Corruption Knights and the Holy Tree Knights are guard units directly under the command of the siblings Marlennia and Michaela. Those who are selected are elite warriors who have experienced hundreds of battles.

In the past, when Marennia went to war, the Knight of Honor and Corruption swept across the border area with the Valkyrie, while the Knight of the Holy Tree stayed in the Holy Tree City to guard Michaela.

After the battle of Ionia, Marennia disappeared. It is said that someone saw her leader of the noble knights, Finlay, carrying the unconscious Valkyrie and breaking out of the siege and leaving Gaileyd, but no one knows whether this rumor is true or not.

"This knight doesn't carry the golden needle either." After examining the body of another Zunfu knight, A'tu left him.

"This is the third one." Melina's hands blazed with golden flames, burning the dead knight's body to ashes, leaving him with the dignity a warrior deserved. "Is the golden needle really on these noble knights? Could it have fallen somewhere else?"

A whole morning passed, and there was no progress in the search for the golden needles. Melina couldn't help but feel a little impatient.

"Don't be impatient. More haste makes waste." Ah Tui took a sip from the bottle of blue dew to regain his concentration. "Advance step by step towards the center of the swamp. There will definitely be gains."

These corrupt knights have been wandering in the corrupt swamp for too long, their minds have been shattered, and they are unable to communicate normally. They have no choice but to resort to force.

Moreover, the weapons the knights usually use are non-mainstream sickles, spears, and rapiers. In addition, their consciousness has been eroded by the scarlet corruption and they have gone crazy. They all fight with a reckless attitude, and it is really difficult to deal with them in close combat.

In pursuit of efficiency, the despicable Faded One had no choice but to take out the Meteorite Staff and use the newly learned gravity magic "Rock Ball" to serve remotely.

As soon as the magic was blasted out, three rock spheres controlled by gravity magic hit his face. In the long-range continuous shooting state, the crazy Zunfu Knight who could only rush forward recklessly and did not know how to dodge almost took all the damage and knelt on the spot.

Looking at the knight's body reduced to ash and scattered, his golden and red armor gradually sinking into the swamp, Melina calmed herself down and said, "You're right, I was too impatient. Let's keep going. Maybe the golden needle is waiting for us up ahead."

The swamp extended downstream along the river, eventually converging into an open, vortex-shaped circular area, and the smell of corruption became increasingly stronger.

Ah Tui's expression grew serious. "According to the map, this is the core of the swamp. Gwei said he lost his golden needle near here."

"The air is getting even more polluted." Melina's single eye widened as she scanned every suspicious corner on the ground, trying to find a glimmer of gold amidst the crimson. "I wonder where the golden needle fell. To have lost something so important, he might be suffering from Alzheimer's disease."

While complaining about Gwei's murderous behavior, the two men conducted a carpet search in the central area.

Suddenly, an old but strong figure waved his hand and split the mutant pine tree standing in the swamp. The old armor weighing hundreds of kilograms vibrated the air and made a clanging sound.

"Golden Needle?" The old veteran flashed a golden light between his fingers. "Is this what you are looking for?"

A few strands of pale silver hair peeked out from beneath the rusted helmet. Years of corruption had worn away all the markings on the veteran's armor that represented his identity, making it impossible to tell which side he belonged to in the Shattered War.

"Even after being corrupted to this extent, he still retains his sanity?" Ah Tui admired the old man's iron will. "Amei, do you recognize who he is?"

"Do you think I'm a universal encyclopedia or a super address book?" Melina glanced at her partner. "There are so many participants in the Shattered War, and there are quite a few generals. How can I possibly remember them all?" Her gaze focused on the delicate golden needle. "But one thing I'm sure of: that's what he's looking for."

Ah Tui also thought so: "It should be correct, but it may not be so easy to get the golden needle from him."

If his guess was correct, the old general's ability to survive in the depths of the Crimson Swamp and still retain the rationality to talk was probably related to his possession of the golden needle. The needle was very likely to have become his obsession, the only remaining anchor in his consciousness.

Seeing no one answering, the veteran asked again in a deep voice: "I ask again, are you... here looking for this needle?"

A Tui and Melina exchanged glances and stepped forward to respond: "What if I say yes? We are here to get the golden needle."

"Very good! Very good! Ahahahaha!" The veteran's unbridled laughter was deafening. "If you want it, you can take it through battle! Choose it through battle! The final winner of this war will be decided through battle!"

The air currents swirled backwards, rivers and swamps flooded backwards, and the old general's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up with brilliance, and he took out the weapon that had accompanied him in his lifelong battles.

The halberd, as old and dilapidated as its master, was wrapped with a red military flag that was so tattered that its original appearance could no longer be recognized. Even though he had lost his mind and his memory was eroded by corruption, the indomitable veteran still held the flag high and roared.

"To all the warriors of the Legion who sleep at the bottom of the swamp! Heed my call, O'Neill, and join me once again on the battlefield of glory!"

Fighting skills are under your command!

The assembly horns were blown, the marching drums were beaten, and the army set out, invincible. The heroic souls of the soldiers buried in the swamp responded to the call of veteran O'Neill.

"All troops charge!!!"

Volume 2: The Flowing Stars: Chapter 48: Atai's Two-Sword Style

The three heroic warriors responded to the call of veteran O'Neill and gathered under the flag he waved.

Even though he could hold a simple conversation, his reason and memory were eroded by the scarlet corruption. To obtain the precious golden needle, a battle was inevitable.

"With the three capable and powerful warrior spirits and the veteran commander in command, we can immediately end this battle by defeating the commander." Ah Dai instantly understood the situation on the field. "Amei, create an opportunity for me. Let's fight quickly and decisively."

As time goes by, fighting in the swamp full of crimson corruption will become increasingly disadvantageous for the two, and it is necessary to end this battle as quickly as possible.