Back at the camp, midnight drew near. The fire that everyone sat around started to die down, no longer fueled by dry pieces of wood that Li manifested every so often to keep it going.

In the dwindling, warm light of the fire, the dark of night started to draw near, but unlike the darkness from before, choked with fog and heavy with lifelessness, this dark was one that was natural, commanded not by an otherworldly fog, but by the familiar silver moon above.

Li felt his hands rhythmically move through Tia's head, keeping her asleep in his lap.

The ash tree behind him had grown to astronomical heights by now, creating a sort of natural landmark that, hopefully in time, many would come to see when they came to travel through this part of the southern continent for the first time in two centuries. 

Mason and Mercer had come back from whatever talk they had had, but it was evident that it was not a good one. The brothers sat apart from each other, Mason staring down at the fire pensively while Mercer stood a distance away, absent-mindedly twirling a dagger up and down. 

From the expressions on their faces, it was obvious that both did not have their minds on the conversation at hand.

"Well, I am heartened to hear that this world has not fallen into complete disrepair," said Lira. She swept her glowing rainbow gaze across the circle of people, nodding at everyone. All the members of the party had spent time to tell Lira on her request of what was still good and familiar in this world. 

"Riviera still stands proud and tall as the city of the great azure lake, its shining walls and sleepy woods keeping its people safe.

Montagne is still ever a mighty spectacle with its mountainside houses and fortresses and to think that Trieste still has ferrymen rowing starstruck lovers through their beautiful canals more than a hundred years later, why, it does bring back memories."

Lira smiled, and Old Thane nodded with a similar smile. 

"Aye," said Old Thane, no doubt remembering a time when he and Aine as adventurers traveled and fought and loved, seeing the vast wide world, and enjoying it to the fullest. 

Lira continued. "Duvin, in particular, my, it is good to hear that it has rebuilt itself from the destruction wrought upon it in the Third Darkening.

I had thought the noble families of Duvin broken and scattered, but to see that the legions of blood still march with as much pride as they did makes me feel better about how things ended last."

Lira looked up and blinked at the moon. When she spoke, she spoke softer, more to herself than anyone else. "Irina would have liked to hear her family did not fall due to her, I am sure. But alas-,"

She looked to Sheela and Vilga, beastwomen of the north. "It is saddening that the north has changed so much. That the forests have wilted down, that my brothers and sisters of Torr Valeris have never changed their ways, that the elves have become tyrants whence before they were such wondrous stewards of both nature and progress, ever curious and yet always knowing to balance life and the future."

Lira shrugged. "Perhaps it is not all too surprising. The elves have always placed their own before all else. In a way, their behavior is their strong bonds with each other taken to the extreme."

"If you sad, then fight," said Sheela. "Fight and make things right. Why not fight?"

"I never said I would not," said Lira. "As I am now, I would. But it may not be so for my true self. One hundred and fifty years is quite a bit of time, and that time may even be longer considering the unpredictable nature of warp travel.

That is why I want to hear all the good that still remains in this world. Those memories I know will reach my true self no matter what state she is in. I do not know whether she still holds any love for this world, but these memories, memories of all that which is still good, I know will reach her heart.

And besides, I already told you. I have faith that your seer will do quite a good job on his own. Or do you not trust him?"

Sheela looked at Li with a worried glance.

"A jest," said Lira. "I know you believe in him and that you simply wish for assurance." She paused. "I cannot give you that. Not completely, at the least. But what I can tell you is that you are strong. All of you around me-," She swept her gaze around once more, and this time, she pointed at every single mortal in the party, noticeably leaving out Li. 

"All of you have potential. Strength. Not only of body, but of will. Do not waste your strength believing completely on the might of others. Believe in yourselves first and foremost, and I am certain that fate will be kind to you. 

If there is one power that these eyes of mine retain even as a copy, it is the ability to see fate, how large or small individuals are in the grand scheme of things, how much of a ripple they will cause in the world. And all of you have the potential to cause mighty ripples." 

"Oh?" said Li. The ability to witness fate was not an Elden World ability. It must have been something Lira was born with or something she developed independently. "And I presume you cannot see my fate?"

"I…can," said Lira. The way she carried herself, the air of casual confidence, it did not lend to her being the type to easily weigh in any pauses between her words. That alone brought everyone's attention straight to her, not to mention the sheer curiosity involved in wondering to what degree someone as powerful and important as Li could affect a change in fate. 

"Hm?" said Li, probing for an answer.

Lira cocked her head one way, then the other, taking the moment to stare at Li with an expression that teetered between concern and concentration. She eventually decided on a shrug to convey herself.

"I have said that all around me are capable of creating ripples in fate," said Lira. "I shall explain myself further. I perceive 'fate' as a body of water. Vast in scale and encompassing all that is to do with this world. 

There, countless ripples echo throughout, some small, some large – the larger the echo in fate, the greater its impact on this world. There is no doubt that all of you present here are capable of creating echoes much larger than any single individual can muster.

But him-,"

Lira nodded towards Li. "When these shining eyes of mine stare upon him, I do not see any ripples."

"Something larger than ripples, aye?" said Old Thane. "The lad is mighty impressive, he is. I'd know more than anyone that he will make a change in this world like none other.

Everyone nodded along with Old Thane, but Lira shook her head.

"I do not see ripples. I do not see anything at all. The river is gone."