The items Bai Shi selected were all of great importance in the early stages.
The nights in the Lands Between were fraught with danger. A torch was essential for moving around at night, and it would also be useful in caves and catacombs.
In the game, the telescope was purely for sightseeing.
But now, with the map having become so vast, a telescope could be used to survey the terrain in advance and spot the distribution of enemies.
The crafting kit was even more useful. It contained various tools like a small knife, a cutting board, and a mortar and pestle, making it easy to process game and craft items.
It could be considered an essential item for survival in the Lands Between.
And the various crafting cookbooks recorded the methods for using the crafting kit to make items—knowledge that could provide a means of survival when one had nothing.
For example, of these two cookbooks, one recorded the crafting methods for bone arrows, fletched bone arrows, and bone bolts.
The other recorded the methods for crafting Glowstones, Invigorating Cured Meat, and Invigorating White Cured Meat.
“Thank you for your business. That will be 2000 Runes.”Bai Shi only had some scattered Runes on him, which definitely wasn't enough to pay.
Previously, when Bai Shi killed the Grafted Scion, a stream of Runes had floated into his body. He remembered that as an elite enemy, the Grafted Scion was definitely worth several thousand Runes.
But Bai Shi didn't know how to use these Runes.
“Um, actually, I just arrived in the Lands Between. I defeated an enemy and obtained Runes, but they’re inside my body, and I don’t know how to use them.”
Kalé truly lived up to his reputation as a nomadic merchant; he was indeed knowledgeable and began to explain to Bai Shi:
“I see. In that case, let me tell you about Runes.”
“Runes are actually the blessings embodied within the residents of the Lands Between. They can be solidified like coins for trade, or crushed to return the blessing to the body.”
“When you kill a resident of the Lands Between, the lingering golden echoes will flow into your body. Those are also Runes.”
“Give me your hand.”
Kalé held out a hand, motioning for Bai Shi to place his own on top of it.
Bai Shi placed his hand on Kalé's. He then saw a golden energy float out from his body and transfer over to Kalé.
Bai Shi didn't have a strong sensation of the energy, but he had a feeling that he could stop the transfer with just a thought if he wanted to.
Kalé stopped the transfer himself after receiving about half of the golden Runes.
“Alright, I’ve taken 2050 Runes from you. The extra 50 is my fee for the explanation.”
“You have a little over 1800 Runes left in your body now.”
Bai Shi nodded. He hadn't expected Runes could be traded in this way.
But a new question arose.
“Runes are a blessing of the Erdtree, but why didn't I feel weak or unwell when they left my body?”
Kalé thought for a moment, seeming to organize his words.
“Hmm, let’s put it this way. For the golden residents of the Lands Between, Runes are a symbol of identity and status.”
“It’s not that they are powerful because they possess Runes; rather, it’s because they are powerful that they possess the corresponding blessing of Runes.”
“However, I’ve heard that for the heroes blessed by Queen Marika the Eternal, that blessing truly did enhance their strength… But there’s no point in talking about that now. Those heroes are figures of a far-distant past.”
“If one loses the blessing of Runes, they lose the recognition of the Erdtree. For the golden residents of the Lands Between, that is equivalent to losing their life.”
“But it’s different for you Tarnished. You left the Lands Between and have now returned; you don’t need that recognition to begin with. That’s why you can brazenly convert Runes into power.” “Because the Runes are not a part of your body, you don't feel weak when they depart. Only after you convert them into your own strength do they truly belong to you.”
Bai Shi had a sudden realization. So that was how it was.
Runes were like badges issued by the Erdtree to every resident, a proof of their identity and status. They could be traded, but one had to possess at least some.
But the Tarnished were wild outsiders. They had no need for such authentication. They were here to become masters of the Lands Between, not to be its residents.
So, it didn't matter if a Tarnished had no Runes at all; they simply didn't care.
“In that case, do you have a way to turn Runes into strength?”
Bai Shi knew that he needed a maiden's help to turn Runes into strength, but who knew if Kalé might have another method? It didn't hurt to ask.
Kalé shook his head.
“The method to turn Runes into strength is known only by the messengers of the Two Fingers, the Finger Maidens.”
“And after your Tarnished king, Godfrey, became Elden Lord, the Finger Maidens were all served by your kin. When you were exiled from the Lands Between, they took the method with them.”
“The next Elden Lord, Radagon, reigned for too short a time. The Two Fingers hadn’t chosen new maidens before the Elden Ring was shattered.”
“After the Elden Ring shattered, the people of the Lands Between started to lose their minds. I could barely do any business. It’s thanks to you Tarnished returning that I’m not completely without income.”
Bai Shi was lost in thought.
‘So that’s why. No wonder the Tarnished need the company of a maiden.’
‘But from the looks of it, it's not only Tarnished maidens who can convert Runes into strength in the Lands Between. Before the Tarnished, there was an age when ancient dragons were Elden Lords. Perhaps there are still ways to convert Runes into power from that time. Melina isn't a Tarnished either, yet she knows the method.’
Bai Shi put away the items he had purchased. The telescope and crafting kit weren't large and could fit into his small pouch. He could just carry the torch on his belt.
Bai Shi checked the sky. The light of the Erdtree had dimmed slightly but was still very bright, corresponding to about two or three in the afternoon.
Bai Shi first went to the center of the church and lit up a Site of Grace there.
Bai Shi decided to set off again. It wasn't evening yet, so there was still plenty of time to be active. He would head to the Gatefront first and see if Melina would appear.
“My name is Bai Shi. I’ll be coming by often in the future. Goodbye.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to your next visit.”
Bai Shi walked out of the Church of Elleh. As soon as he stepped outside, his eyes were met with a dense forest. The crowns of the trees overlapped, blocking the light of the Erdtree and casting the woods in dimness.
The undergrowth was also extremely thick, and he couldn't tell what dangers might be lurking within.
Bai Shi climbed onto a broken wall of the Church of Elleh, took out the telescope he had just bought, and began to observe the forest carefully.
‘Two faint points of firelight moving back and forth… those should be patrolling Godrick Soldiers. And there’s a larger point of light that looks like a bonfire.’
Seeing nothing else, Bai Shi boldly entered the woods.
Once inside the forest, Bai Shi found that it was unusually dark, but not so dark that he couldn't see the path. This actually made it easier for him to move.
Bai Shi approached stealthily and soon drew near one of the Godrick Soldiers.
The Godrick Soldier wore a bronze helmet and a two-toned surcoat. The left side was green, emblazoned with the image of the ancient Erdtree, while the right side was yellow, bearing the likeness of the Lion Regent.
This Godrick Soldier was holding a torch in one hand, patrolling slowly and leisurely through the forest.