>>5144446"Congratulations! You are a failure." Merlina berates you, being disappointed that you did not grow even more than this. "3 years to show of your training, and you cant defeat the only witch remaining of our clan without losing 47 consecutive times. Were I a real witch, meeting a paladin of this caliber 3 years ago, you wouldn't even be able to last a minute against me. The fact that you plan on fighting Conrad, or even the new God Hand member by yourself is nothing but a joke in poor taste."
But before you could feel discouraged, she mentions the upsides of your progress.
"However. It bears to remind you that I have trained in magic for 40 years, without ever using my body like a soldier would. I am the strongest of the silver eyed by both process of elimination, and compared to what the my ancestors could do. Any other human would be bested by you if he fought alone. And combined with the growth of your magical powers... You are more than ready to take down Hedwyn, provided he does not wake up. I wish I could be there to watch over your adult years. You will surely surpass me one day if you let my wisdom nourish within you and never miss your practices... Not to mention that you are still fighting without proper knight equipment."
The last of her gargoyles crumbles into pieces, with her being too weak to even stand up, you strap Merlina to your back and walk around with her to the accursed lake, taking one last look at Hedwyn before you've made an attempt on his life on the following day. Merlina has enough power to maintain the seal closed, but even that is taking a toll on her health nowadays.
"You will have a very short window of time to kill him before he wakes up and starts to target us. No doubt more of his spawns will try to regenerate and stop you, but you must focus on the weak spot that's keeping him alive: The gray behelit he has on his entrails. Rip that from his insides as you tear at him with your holy spear, and he will be washed into the abyss, along with my soul finally being liberated of this horrible nightmare I can't wake up from..."
The melancholy of Merlina's passing is starting to hit you. You got attatched to your grumpy master, and even if she did not grow more sociable (or nicer), you could tell her first and only pupil was a legacy she was proud to leave behind.
"Tell me, what do you plan on doing after defeating Hedwyn? What are your immediate priorities?"
>Giving you a proper burial.>Defeating Griffith, Conrad and the other God Hand members.>Look for a good blacksmith, maybe find Gunpowder along the way.>See if there is any money left in the Santana estate.>See if Guts is still alive, he could surely help you in your journey against evil.>Meeting your mother. Well, 'mothers'.>Write-in. 