TL;DR

• Romancing Anca in The Blood of Dawnwalker takes five quests spread across the game.
• You can start flirting with her as early as the prologue during Withering Away.
• The key quests are: Withering Away, Echoes of Silenced Bells, Between the Words, Where Old Devils Lie, and Stronger Than Achilles.
• Always pick flirtatious dialogue options. Never choose the “just friends” response.
• The romance scene happens at the inn at the end of Stronger Than Achilles.
• You can romance Anca alongside other characters — it does not block Lacra or Crake.
• Warning: Never approach Anca in vampire form when Coen’s health is low — it can kill her and end the romance permanently.

Romancing Anca in The Blood of Dawnwalker — Full Romance Guide

Romancing Anca in The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the most rewarding storylines in the game. She is the village herbalist of Laslea Glen, a former nun with dark secrets, and one of the first people Coen meets on the worst day of his life. She helps him, challenges him, and slowly opens up to him — but only if you push in the right direction at every step. This guide walks you through every quest, every key dialogue choice, and every moment that matters on the path to her romance scene.

Note: This article contains story spoilers for Anca’s quest arc. If you haven’t started the game yet, read our prologue walkthrough for The Blood of Dawnwalker first so you understand the setup before diving into this guide.

Who Is Anca?

Anca is the herbalist who lives just outside Laslea Glen. She was raised at St. Tyna’s Convent and spent years there as a nun — not entirely by choice. She eventually left and set herself up as a village healer, growing herbs and treating the sick. She taught Coen to read and write when he was young. She is sharp, patient, and a little guarded. She keeps a secret she has hidden from everyone in the village, and getting close to her is the only way to find out what it is.

She is about 20 years older than Coen, and she will remind you of that. She uses the word “decency” more than once. Getting her to lower those walls takes persistence across the entire game — not just one conversation.

Can You Romance Multiple Characters?

Yes. The Blood of Dawnwalker lets you pursue all three romance options — Anca, Lacra, and Crake — in the same playthrough. Romancing Anca will not lock you out of the others. You can pursue all of them without any conflict. That said, Anca is the romance that gets the most screen time and the most developed arc, so if you only invest in one, she is the one worth following.

The Two Fail States to Avoid

There are two ways to permanently end the Anca romance before it ever gets started.

The first is choosing to remain just friends. At certain points in the quest arc, Coen has the option to tell Anca he only sees her as a friend. If you pick that, the romantic path closes. Every time the game offers a flirtatious option, take it.

The second is more dangerous and less obvious: if Coen speaks to Anca while in vampire form and his health is critically low, he may attack and kill her. This ends not just the romance but her presence in the game entirely. Be careful about approaching her at night with low health.

Quest 1 — Withering Away (Prologue)

This is where everything begins. Coen visits Anca to get herbs for his sick mother. She is not home when he arrives — use Focus Mode near her hut to find clues, then follow the path to the river where she is working.

When you find her by the river, ask her about the unusual marks on her arms. This opens up her character and signals to her that Coen notices and cares. Pay the full 50 Denarius she asks for rather than haggling — it makes a better impression.

Back at her hut, she offers to continue a Latin lesson while a storm passes. Say yes. This triggers the optional Page-Turner quest and costs 2 time segments, but it is the foundation of the romance. Once inside:

• When asked to choose a book, pick the one with the red cover and keep insisting you both read Catullus’ poem instead of the safer option she suggests.
• When Anca asks you to translate, answer with “Kisses” and then “Grains of sand.”
• A storm knocks a tree into her herb shed. Help her collect all 11 herb bundles before the scene moves forward — three of them are hidden behind the door and easy to miss.
• When Anca is injured outside, say that she needs to take her shirt off so you can treat the wound properly.
• After tending to her wounds, say “I enjoy the company more than the books.”

Later, after Brencis destroys the village and takes Coen’s family, there is a tense scene where Coen raises his voice at Anca. Apologize for it. Tell her you did not mean to scare her. It keeps the relationship warm heading into the open world.

For a detailed breakdown of everything that happens in this section — including how to brew the medicine correctly and the best quest order — see our full Blood of Dawnwalker prologue walkthrough.

Quest 2 — Echoes of Silenced Bells

This quest unlocks right after the prologue ends, when Coen meets Anca at the inn near St. Tyna’s Convent. She wants to go back to the place where she used to live as a nun and deal with something left unfinished. Head to the convent with her.

The mission involves exploring the convent, fighting through the catacombs, and defeating an enemy named Leonica. Romance-wise, here are the moments that count:

• If Anca opens up about her scars during this quest, respond with: “It must have been painful.” Empathize, do not push.
• After defeating Leonica, say: “Pity we could not do more for her.” Show that Coen feels the weight of what happened here.
• Anca will then insist on completing a ritual to give peace to the souls of her fellow nuns. She needs some notes to do it. Tell her “This won’t end well” first, then hand over the notes by saying “There, take them.” This costs 1 extra time segment but matters for her story.
• Do not throw the notes into the fire. If you burn them, she gets upset and it sets the relationship back.

There is no single moment in this quest that unlocks the romance on its own. It is more about building trust and showing Coen as someone who respects Anca’s past rather than dismissing it.

Quest 3 — Between the Words

This is a shorter quest that acts as a bridge between the convent storyline and the larger adventure that follows. Anca and Coen sit together and work through clues hidden in old books. It is a quiet, intimate mission — no major combat, just the two of them in close company.

The dialogue choices here are what move things forward:

• Open with: “Hope you had more luck than me.”
• Optionally, prepare a warm drink for Anca when given the chance. It costs 1 time segment but adds a soft, domestic moment to the relationship.
• Say: “It’s my pleasure.”
• Follow with: “There are better sources of joy than herbal brews.”
• When she seems guarded, push gently with: “Always? What do you mean?”
• Then say: “Your feelings toward me — it’s more than just faith.” Name what is happening between them.

Anca will not fully commit here. But she will not shut it down either. That is progress with her.

Quest 4 — Where Old Devils Lie

After Between the Words, give Anca a day or two to research the books you found together. She eventually contacts you about something she found — a trail of clues pointing to a place called the Font of Life, a pool of powerful old magic hidden somewhere in the mountains nearby.

When the quest begins, Coen and Anca head to the ruins at dawn. There are some romantic moments on the way:

• At the inn before you head out: “Who knows what else I have in store for you?”
• While sitting by a lake together: “I care about you.” Say it simply and directly.
• Standing in front of the ruins: “Nice to see you smile” and then “I’m enjoying your company, too.”

Inside the ruins, there are valuables to loot and enemies to fight. The quest leads you deeper into the structure. Eventually, Coen will reach a point where he tells Anca that he loves her. She does not say it back yet — she puts the conversation off for later. That is fine. The commitment has been made.

Quest 5 — Stronger Than Achilles

This is the final quest in Anca’s arc and where the romance either happens or it does not. It begins immediately after Where Old Devils Lie ends. Anca draws ritual symbols on Coen’s body and the two go deeper underground to find the Font of Life.

There are a series of combat trials to get through. When you finally reach the chamber, here are the key moments:

• At the blood sacrifice pillar, Coen must use it. Put his hands in. When Anca panics at seeing him hurt, say: “Better me than you.”
• When Anca says she wants to use the Font herself, respond with: “You were hoping to use the Font yourself” and then “I would, too, in your place.” Understand her without judging.
• Tell her: “I’d do anything for you.”
• Say: “I love you.” Do not choose the option that tells her she is just a friend.

What to Do With the Font of Life

At the end of Stronger Than Achilles, you have three options: let Coen drink from the Font, let Anca drink from it, or destroy it entirely. All three choices still allow the romance to proceed. None of them block the scene at the inn.

If Coen drinks, he gets a passive health regeneration perk called Font of Life — useful for extended daytime fights. If Anca drinks, she feels cleansed of her past and is slightly more enthusiastic at the inn afterward. If you destroy the Font, you receive a pair of legendary trousers that can carry you into the endgame. All are valid. The romance is not affected either way.

The Romance Scene at the Inn

Once Stronger Than Achilles is complete, Coen and Anca return to the inn. She brings up the conversation he started in the ruins — the one she deflected earlier. This is the moment. Pick the following dialogue:

• “There’s a conversation we need to finish.”
• “I meant what I said.”
• “Screw decency. I want you, too.”
• After the first kiss: “Not sure I got that. One more time?” This is the line that leads to the full romance scene between Coen and Anca.

Do not choose any response that keeps things platonic. If you say you just want to be friends at this point, the moment is gone.

What Happens After the Romance

After the scene, you can visit Anca at the inn and ask about what happened between the two of them. She will talk about it, and Coen can say he wants more. She does not commit to a future with him — the 30-day clock is still ticking and she is realistic about what that means. But the door stays open for conversation.

In the epilogue, there is one more chance to flirt with her. There is no second romance scene beyond the one at the inn, but the relationship is acknowledged in how she speaks to Coen. She is not distant. She just is not ready to call it something permanent.

Romancing Anca also does not give Coen any special items or combat buffs specific to their relationship. The reward is the story itself — and learning what secret she was carrying the whole time.

Tips for Romancing Anca

• Start in the prologue. The Page-Turner quest is optional but it sets the best possible foundation. Spend the 2 time segments with her early — it pays off across the full game.
• Always choose flirtatious or emotionally open dialogue when it appears. Anca does not respond well to cold or dismissive responses.
• Be patient. She is resistant. That is part of who she is. Keep showing up and keep being honest about what Coen feels.
• Never approach her in vampire form with low health. The risk of accidentally triggering an attack is real and the consequence is permanent.
• Give her the notes during Echoes of Silenced Bells. Do not burn them. It is her past, not yours to decide what to do with.
• Do not rush through Between the Words. Make the warm drink. Spend the extra time segment. It matters for the relationship’s momentum.
• You do not need to follow her romance questline in strict back-to-back days. Anca will wait. She contacts you when she is ready for the next quest.

Full Anca Romance Quest Order

• Withering Away — Prologue. First meeting at the river. Page-Turner optional but recommended.
• Echoes of Silenced Bells — St. Tyna’s Convent. Let her complete the ritual. Do not burn the notes.
• Between the Words — Deciphering books. Prepare the warm drink. Admit what is there between them.
• Where Old Devils Lie — Ruins journey. Tell her you care. Say you love her before entering the Font chamber.
• Stronger Than Achilles — The Font trials. Take the blood pillar hit. Say “I love you.” Pick the Font option you want. Return to the inn.

The Anca romance is one of the more grounded and human stories in The Blood of Dawnwalker. She is not easy to win over and that is what makes it feel real. If you are still early in the game and working through the first few quests, our guides on the Under Watchful Eyes quest and how to improve Coen’s mother’s condition will help you stay on top of the early game while you build toward Anca’s full arc. For broader combat and build tips, see our guide on the best skills to level up so you are ready for the trials inside the ruins. You can pick up the game on Steam, PlayStation Store, or Xbox.