Chapter 1
This a separate story from my other Dark Soul story because I felt like this own deserved it's own standalone story.
Somewhere in the Ringed City
In the ruins if the Ringed city, a figure was praying to the remnants of the purging moment. After finishing his prayer, he walked over to the remnants of a skeleton. He kneeled before it and spoke.
"Thou will be avenged, my dear." Said the figure before taking off.
Firelink Shrine
Karla hummed to herself as she saw the Ashen one practicing with the weapon that he had that Lord of Cinder make out of the soul of the dragon that he had slain in the Ringed city. Making a grunt of approval, he placed it in it's scabbard before walking over to his thief friend. They exchanged some friendly chatter before the thief asked the Ashen one to allow him to go to Lothric. After some convincing, the Ashen one allowed him to go, which the man was overjoyed with. Karla frowned as the thief made his way out of the shrine and on his journey to Lothric castle. He should know that no thief has ever made it back from Lothric castle because of the Wyverns, knights, and other monstrosities that would convince even the most insane person to never venture there for the purpose of plundering. Unless…he wanted to die.
"A pity." Thought Karla as she lowered her head. "I quite liked that man." She was about to read the pyromancies tomes that the Ashen one gave her when said person was walking to her.
"Was there something that you wanted from me, Karla?" Asked the Ashen one as he looked at the heretical sorceress.
"Nothing of the sort." Said Karla as she looked at the man, clad in the armor of dragon worshippers, an armor that served him well after he acquired it. "What would make you say that?"
"Greirat." Said the Ashen one. "He saw you looking over at our conversation." Karla cursed before looking at the Ashen one.
"I merely wished to overhear." Said Karla. "It's quite boring here, with nothing to do."
"You could speak to the others." Suggested the Ashen one, causing Karla to laugh.
"And who should I talk to?" Asked Karla. "I'm a child of the Abyss. Who would want to speak with me willingly?"
"Me." Said the Ashen one as he sat with Karla in the crevice that Karla had claimed for herself. "I speak to you willingly."
"For my sorceries and what I can teach you that the others refuse to teach." Said Karla. "Nothing more."
"No, I speak with you because you're one of few allies and friends that I made on this forsaken journey." Said the Ashen one as he held her hand. Karla simply looked away.
"You would not consider me so if you knew what I had done in my life." Said Karla as she took her hand away. "I did some terrible deeds that cannot be absolved." The Ashen one just stayed silent. She never went into detail of what dark deeds she did. All he knew was that she was ashamed and regretted them.
"Karla, whatever it is you did, I swear to you that I would not think of you differently if I learn what you had done." Said the Ashen one, causing Karla to scoff.
"Don't you have one last lord to bring back?" Asked Karla. "Go back to your journey and bring his ashes back." The Ashen one just sighed before getting up and leaving for Lothric castle. As he was leaving, Karla felt a bit of regret for speaking to him like that. The only friend that she had made in her life and she pushed him away when he was trying to be friendly. Sighing to herself, she laid down and tried to go to sleep. She didn't need sleep, like every undead, but it was something that she enjoyed. It helped her detach from her miserable life.
Meanwhile
Lothric castle
Much later
The Ashen one rolled out of the way of a Crystal soul spear as it flew past him. He then charged at the mage, who was already casting another spear. Just before she could cast it, the Ashen one let loose a series of slashes from his new katana. Barely surviving that series of attacks, the mage received a final slash to the throat, killing her. After doing the deed, the Ashen one laid on the ground, a bit exhausted. Between, the Crystal sage in the Grand archives of Lothric, the cursed books, the various knights, gargoyles, and the recent trio of undead that he had fought against, he was tired to the point of collapsing. After recovering, he walked inside the tower room that the trio of undead were guarding from him. To his wonder, he found an elevator in the room. Cautious, he went over and pressed the pressure plate, which allowed the elevator to go down. Relief filled him when he saw the elevator went down near the entrance the Grand Archives. He knew because he recognized the area that led to the Grand Archive. Soon he approached the bonfire near the area and began to rest, feeling rejuvenated instantly when near the bonfire. After a few moments, he got up and took the elevator back up so he can face prince Lothric and collect the final ashes needed to help link the first flame. Upon arriving, he was instantly surprised to see a figure waiting for him. The figure, to his shock, was the same one as the spirits that he faced on his way to the Irithyll dungeons and the Ringed city. The Ashen one was about to draw out his new katana when the figure just held his hand.
"Wait." Said the figure. "I wish to speak." The Ashen one just stayed silent, hands still on his sword. "I understand that you'll be skeptical. After all, you faced people who wore my armor and have no way to tell who the real one is. Allow me to gain your trust." With that, he grabbed his weapon, a katana, the same one that the spirits from the Irithyll dungeon entrance and the Ringed City wielded, and tossed it near the Ashen one. Starring at the tossed sword, the Ashen one let go of his sword, a bit willing to hear the man out.
"What do you want?" Asked the Ashen one as he starred at the man, ready to fight in case the man proved hostile. The man just sighed before speaking.
"You have something of mine." Said the man. "Or rather someone." The Ashen one just stayed silent, guessing who it was.
"Karla." The man just nodded in confirmation.
"I don't doubt your skills, unkindled one." Said the man as he began to pace around the room. "But I'm taking her away."
"And why should I trust you?" Asked the Ashen one. "She's one of my friends."
"Because it's for your safety, your other friends, and the entire world." Said the man. "And that's all you need to know." The man then brought out a crossbow and pointed it to the Ashen one. "Now do what I say and I'll let you live."
"I'm afraid not." Said the Ashen one as he drew out his katana. "I won't give you Karla." The man just sighed before firing his crossbow at the Ashen one, who dodged before it could be fired. Then he rolled toward the man before unleashing a barrage of slashes. Just before the Ashen one could deliver another one, the man rolled away before rushing to grab his sword. Not wanting him to grab it, the Ashen one fired a dark wave at the sword, preventing him from grabbing it. Now regretting his decision to throw his weapon away, the man threw a black firebomb at the Ashen one, forcing him to jump away. As the Ashen one jumped away from the firebomb, the man grabbed his sword and charged at the Ashen one. Seeing the man come at him, the Ashen one raised his shield to block the incoming attacks. After surviving a third slash, the Ashen one was suddenly hit by a cross bolt, causing him to jerk in surprise. The man then used this to slash at the Ashen one several times before the Ashen one had managed to kick him away and rolled back to take a dose of Estus from his flask. Looking back at the man, the Ashen one saw that he was panting in exhaustion from his barrage of attacks as well as his wounds.
"Just surrender." Said the Ashen one. "You can't win."
"Never." Said the man as he charged at the Ashen one. "I won't let my daughter be used to resurrect the father."
"What?" Asked the Ashen one in shock, lowering his guard a bit. He then raised his shield to block the man's attacks. After rolling away to avoid a cross bolt to the leg, the Ashen one backstabbed the man before kicking him from his blade. As he got up, the Ashen one let loose two slashes to the torso before following up with a stab to stomach. As the man began to fade away, the man spoke one last time.
"You can't protect Karla from them." Said the man. "Only I can." He then faded into nothing. The Ashen one just starred at the spot where the man had faded away before going back down to the bonfire. He needed answers.
Firelink shrine
The Ashen one was walking down to Karla's little crevice when he heard her grunting in pain. Concerned filled the Ashen one as he rushed over to her and saw her thrashing in her sleep. Worried, the Ashen one grabbed Karla and began to shake her. Soon, Karla stopped moving and her eyes opened.
"Oh, Ashen one." Said Karla as she saw him holding her shoulders. "What are you doing?"
"You were thrashing in your sleep." Said the Ashen one as he let her go and sat in front of her. "Is anything wrong?"
"Nothing of your concern." Said Karla stubbornly, making him sigh. "Is there anything you want from me? A tome of pyromancy or miracles that you wish for me to decipher and teach you."
"No, I want answers." Said the Ashen one, surprising Karla. "Do you know a man in knight armor. One that wields a large katana and a crossbow." Karla stiffened a bit before relaxing.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Said Karla.
"Don't lie to me Karla." Said the Ashen one. "This knight confronted me while I was on my way to prince Lothric. We fought and eventually he spoke your name. He also claimed that you're his daughter." Karla then looked away from the Ashen one. "Is this true?"
"Did this knight say his name?" Asked Karla, hoping that it wasn't who she thought it was.
"No." Said the Ashen one.
"Can you give me a description of the armor he wore?" Asked Karla. The Ashen one did so, detailing his armor as best he could. After hearing the last detail, Karla just sighed. "The man that you faced is an undead like you, one that has been alive for thousands, maybe tens of thousands." She then looked at the Ashen one. "His name is Alva, Seeker of the Spurned. And he's been searching for me for quite some time."
"For what?" Asked the Ashen one. Karla just hugged her knees and brought them to her chest.
"For vengeance." Said Karla. "You see, I…killed my mother when I was young." The Ashen one looked shocked at this but let her continue. "I don't know what came over me, but I used one of my dark sorceries against her and slain her. My father took it hard and left me to fend for myself for some time. Eventually, he found me and tried to kill me. I've been on the run from him since." She then looked at the Ashen one. "And it seems that you're dragged into this as well. I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Said the Ashen one. "I've taken longer sidetracks from my quest and faced far greater foes than an old knight. But can you tell me why you killed your mother and why your father would want you dead along with some information about him."
"I don't wish to talk about my mother so please don't ask me." Said Karla. The Ashen one just nodded, understanding her reasoning. "As for my father, wouldn't anyone want to murder the one that killed one of their loved ones, even if it was another loved one? For information, I don't have much in the way for his fighting style. It's changed over the years. However, I do know that he used to be a knight for a saint. One day, this saint had acquired a sickness that no one knew the cure of, so my father searched far and wide for a cure. I don't know the details exactly, but along the way, he met my mother and that he failed to save the saint. My father and mother eventually married and had me."
"Did you all have a good life?" Asked the Ashen one.
"For a time." Said Karla. "But eventually, it was destroyed when I killed my mother." She then looked away. "Now you know of one of the dark deeds that I committed, one my greatest sins. Do you have anything to say. Are you going to slay me?"
"No." Said the Ashen one, causing Karla to look at him in shock. "Karla, I've done some horrific things in my journey for the lords of cinder and I probably did the same in my past life, so if you think I'll treat you any differently know than what I did before, then you are wrong. You're one of the few friends I have left. And besides, I doubt that you received much love in your life when people found out what you did. I don't want to add to that list. You obviously regret what happened, Karla. That, along with the warnings about your dark sorceries and how dangerous they are, shows me that you are a good person." Karla just starred at the Ashen one in shock.
"You're…not lying, are you?" Asked Karla as she placed a hand on the Ashen one's helm. Though she couldn't see his face, she felt that he was telling the truth and that he truly didn't think of her differently.
"No, I'm not. Even if I don't know how many dark deeds you did in your life, I won't treat you any differently than I do now." Said the Ashen one. Hearing that, made Karla tear up a bit, but she refused to cry. Instead, she just hugged the Ashen one. Grateful that he wasn't treating any differently than before.
"Thank you." Said Karla before looking at the Ashen one. "You have no idea how long I actually wanted someone to know and treat me the same. I knew it was a long shot, but to actually have someone accept me, despite what I have done. It's…nice."
"You're welcome." Said the Ashen one. "Now, about your father, what should I do with him?"
"For now, just fight him. He'll keep coming back until you give me up." Said Karla. "The downside of having an undead as an enemy"
"True." Said the Ashen one. "What about just talking with him? Can I end this peacefully? He said that he wishes to protect you."
"Don't believe him." Said Karla. "When I tried to speak with him a few times. All of them ended with him trying to kill me. Sometime he says it was for the good of the world, other times it was to protect me." She said this with a scoff. "He's too far gone. All he cares about is avenging my mother and killing me."
"Do you mind if I…"
"Kill him?" Said Karla. "No, I don't. He's not the man he used to be. Kill him as much as you like."
"I see." Said the Ashen one before getting up. "Just know Karla, I won't give you up to him. I lost too many people on this journey already." Karla just nodded her head in thanks before watching him leave. As he left, Karla placed her hands over her chest, feeling her beating heart.
"You truly are a knight." Said Karla. "Like the ones of old."
Meanwhile
Somewhere
In an undisclosed location, a group of undead were praying and chanting to a pile of items on a table. The items ranged from weapons, like a scythe, to simple pieces of papers containing miracles or pyromancies. The one undead that was in front of the rest soon got up and spoke to his compatriots. He wore some knight armor of unknown make and wielded a sorcerer staff.
"The time is soon upon us." Said the undead. "Soon, the father will return to this world and spread the abyss. We only need the final shard. Despite recent setbacks, we have finally found it. Our warriors will bring it here and we'll be finally be able to return the great father." After some cheers, the man began to give out orders to his companions. He soon returned to praying.
"Dear father. You shall return." Thought the undead as he prayed.
If anyone hadn't guess, the story will have Karla as a main character as well as having one of the most common theories about her as her backstory, but with my own twist at the end. And also based on the title, one can assume that Manus is also coming into play, but how? That will be up to you all to decide. Write what you think will happen in the review section and what you predict will happen.