Chapter 269: Melina’s Death and Rebirth, Two Entirely Different Flames

Arthur believed that the so-called "vision" was a manifestation of faith—a glimpse of the future shown to believers, a utopia that their belief promised they would one day reach.

Ordinary Tarnished followed no particular faith. Thus, they could not see any vision.

But those who accepted the Frenzied Flame could see a future where everything was burned to ash and reduced to chaos.

That was why they could use themselves to ignite the Erdtree.

Marika, who embraced the faith of the Erdtree, became the vessel of the Elden Ring.

The Elden Ring guided the future of the Lands Between through the Golden Order.

In that sense, Marika bore within her the future revealed by the Erdtree’s faith—that "vision."

Melina’s relationship to Marika was much like Malenia’s relationship to Millicent.

She had been created by Marika, carrying Marika’s will and certain traits.

That was why she could perceive the guidance Marika left behind—and why she could see the vision.

She was the ideal sacrifice.

Because from birth, Melina had been connected to the Erdtree.

Rather than calling her a sacrifice—or the kindling meant to ignite the Erdtree—

It would be more accurate to call her a medium.

A conduit that guided the flame of the Forge of the Giants to the Erdtree.

The Frenzied Flame Tarnished offered proof of this.

They accepted the Frenzied Flame beneath the Erdtree, then ignited themselves at the Forge.

The fire they carried was guided to the Erdtree’s roots, burning the foundation of the Lands Between and reducing everything to nothingness.

Melina’s role was similar.

Only, she was not extreme like the Frenzied Flame.

What she sought to burn were merely the thorns covering the Erdtree’s surface—the thorns that rejected all.

Understanding all of this at last, Arthur finally grasped why Melina regarded burning the tree as her mission.

It was Marika’s will, inherited by her.

It was a burden she had carried from the moment of her birth.

For a brief instant, Arthur felt a pang of pity for the quiet girl standing beside him.

It seemed her destiny had been arranged the moment she came into existence.

Seeing him come out of his thoughts and look at her with something like sympathy, Melina spoke softly.

"There is no need to pity me."

"This is the path I have chosen. It is my mission."

"...And besides, traveling with you has been a joy. I am already satisfied."

"Thank you for bringing me here. Now... please allow me to fulfill my purpose."

Arthur exhaled quietly and stepped aside.

Melina walked up to him and, without warning, embraced him.

At the edge of farewell, she allowed herself a moment of selfishness.

Pressing against his chest, she listened to his heartbeat, savoring this fleeting fragment of peace.

Until the small Ranni doll nestled in Arthur’s arms squirmed in protest.

It wasn’t jealousy—Arthur holding other women was nothing new.

Ranni’s complaint was simpler.

Being sandwiched between them meant she couldn’t see anything, and it was uncomfortable.

Melina released Arthur and said softly,

"Would you... turn around?"

She did not want him to witness the flames consuming her.

Unlike in the original game, she lacked the strength to force him into unconsciousness.

So she could only ask.

Arthur felt the additional mark imprinted upon him.

He knew what it was—the mark that led to Crumbling Farum Azula.

Melina had placed it on him during their embrace.

Maliketh, bearer of the Rune of Death, awaited there.

But none of that mattered now.

What mattered was that Melina was about to become kindling.

Arthur knew he could not stop her.

Nor would she allow him to trample on her resolve.

Yet he still had one final method.

Following her request, Arthur turned his back.

Melina stepped forward to face the interior of the Forge.

She extended both hands, drawing upon the flames Arthur had ignited.

The crimson-gold fire coiled around her body.

Raising her arms high, she spoke:

"Those who walk alongside flame... shall one day meet destined death."

"Farewell." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Her words carried two meanings.

One: those who walked with the Frenzied Flame would meet the kindling maiden who would grant them destined death.

Two: those who traveled with the kindling maiden would one day face the destined death waiting to be unleashed.

Without question, she meant the second.

With her final words spoken, Melina closed her eyes.

Her body transformed into a towering pillar of fire and shot toward the Erdtree, which covered most of the Lands Between.

At that very instant—

Arthur turned.

His hand plunged into the blazing column and seized a small white light from within.

When he withdrew, he looked at the faint glow resting in his palm and smiled.

"Farewell?" he murmured.

"More like... see you soon."

The white light was Melina’s soul imprint.

He had extracted it before the flames could completely reduce her soul to nothing.

As long as he replenished it with sufficient soul power and found a suitable vessel—

Melina could be revived.

And for Arthur, fulfilling those conditions was far from difficult.

He glanced once more at the Erdtree now engulfed in flame.

Let it burn for now.

Melina’s intention had only been to burn away the thorns rejecting all.

Once they were gone, the fire should subside.

As for traveling to Crumbling Farum Azula and slaying Maliketh to release Destined Death?

What was that compared to resurrecting his wife?

With that thought, Arthur left the Lands Between and returned to the Zen Garden to prepare the materials for Melina’s rebirth.

However—

He had overlooked one crucial detail.

Would the flames consuming the Erdtree truly stop as he expected?

If events had unfolded exactly as in the original game—

If Melina had ignited the Forge herself and sacrificed her body—

Then perhaps things would proceed as Arthur imagined.

But the reality was different.

It was not Melina who ignited the Forge.

It was Arthur.

And that single, subtle difference...

Would send the course of events down an entirely different path.

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