1 My heart jolted, and my head thundered as I looked around the room. The moss-covered stone an all but too familiar sight. from behind the veil of my tattered hood, I examined the small, cramped room. A dried out, body lay in the corner and sunlight shone in through a small square in the ceiling. A large iron black-and-red rusted door blocked the hallway, where two hollows milled. I pulled my knees closer to my chest, and I muttered quietly. "Undead Asylum".
What am I doing in the Asylum?
"Dark Souls..." I muttered in realization.
"I'm in the game..."
My thoughts were interrupted as a body fell in through the skylight, and I looked up quickly. A figure in armor looked at me blankly, as if deciding what to do. The figure stared at mefor a few moments. then nodded, and I cringed.
He nodded? Had he done that before?
His head disappeared, and I sat there, dumbfounded. I stood, and walked over to the body, and examined it. The hollowed body loosely grasped a key in its hand. I snatched it from the body, put the key into the lock, opened the door, and rushed out, ready to experience Dark Souls as I wanted. I sprinted down the hallway, passing the hollows, and thinking of all the things I could do since game mechanics were no longer in play. I turned my head as I heard a whooshing, and dived just in time to dodge the hammer that smashed through the bars beside me. It passed centimeters before my face. The dying cries of hollows was replaced with a odd whooshing, and I could feel a presence that wasn't my own within myself. I stood at the top of the stairs and closed my eyes. I could feel an odd amount of souls in place with mine, 42 individual presences that were now my own. I was startles out of my concentration by a splash, and inhaled sharply, then sighed as I saw the hollow mucking around in the murky water. Some stairs led down into the pool that the hollow sat in, and I stood at the edge of them, looking for a way up. I began to take a step, then stopped, and looked at my outfit. I needed to get my bearings. In the various pouches on the sash of my pyromancer robes, I found a master key, and an old witch's ring. My clothes could have been in better shape, tattered at the edges and full of holes. I leapt out, and dashed across the water through the corridor, and leapt onto the ladder. The ladder was moist and cold, and it seemed to move every few bars. Climbing over the top, I was met with a cold breeze, as I stepped into the courtyard. Snow covered the ground around the unlit bonfire. I took a moment, putting my hands on my hips, and shifted my weight to my right leg, as I looked up at the clouded sky. I thought of all the hardships I would have to endure, all the charachters that would die.
But game mechanics aren't in place...
I thought to my self
which means.. They don't have to die!
It would be awesome if I could have this NOT be a solo journey.
I let out a deep sigh, and looked towards the rusted red iron bar door.
Best to start with Oscar...
examining the door, it was pretty old and weathered, and could be knocked off the hinges with a good hit. Is readied myself, and kicked out with my right leg, heel connecting with the door and jarring my hip. The door dropped straight down, free from it's hinges, and began to tip towards me. The door hit the grass with a whumph and landed on my left big toe. I brought my knee up to my chest, and began to hop around as I held my toe.
"Son of a..!" I started
"H-hello? Is someone there?" a voice sounded, presumably Oscar's.
I stopped my spazzing, and began to limp along the shortcut I created, awkwardly climbing the stairs. As I neared the top, I could hear a rough, ragged breathing, which was replaced by the sound of stone grinding together. The memory of the boulder flashed before my eyes, and instinct kicked in. My body rolled to the far right, and the boulder passed through the place where I had been. I let out a small wail as my vision edged red when I rolled into the pile of bricks, the corner of one jabbing my spine. It turned my attention to the ghoul att he top of the stairs, shaking off the injury. The iron ball crashed through the wall, and the ghoul leapt towards me from the top of the stairs. I quickly parried, and felt sorry for hm as I stepped behind him, and professionally snapped his neck, like in the movies. His body dropped, and I quickly snatched his sword, and threaded it through my sash, making sure it would stay.
"Anyone still out there?" I heard over the sound of the hollow's souls joining the collection of his brothers.
I poked my head through the crater in the wall the ball had created, then looked up as I heard s sleek grinding sound. And blew a raspberry as a brick hit me in the head, and I fell on my face. I quickly got up, not wanting to look dumb, and placed a hand on the sore spot where the brick had landed. I stumbled as pain stars filled my vision from having stood up too quickly.
"Owwww..." I rasped, vocal chords not fully functional.
As my vison cleared, my eyes fell upon the pitiful form of Oscar, leaning against the pile of bricks in his Elite Knight armor, crest shield resting on his knees.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
I simply nodded, and walked towards him through the puddle, and crouched before him.
"... oh, you're no hollow eh?' he started.
I grabbed his arm and slung it over my shoulder, preparing myself to stand with the combined weight of his armor. I pulled him up with me as I straightened myself, and his shield clattered to the floor,i quickly grabbed it, and slung it on his back.
"Hey, what are you doing? You could hurt yo-"
I just smiled at him, and he seemed to understand my good intentions, then he straightened his form as we began walking down the stairs together. I carefully helped him over the de-framed door, and sat him down on the snow covered grass next to the bonfire. I put my palm towards the bonfire, and said
"Light".
Nothing happened.
I tried various forms, and different words, even those of languages from books I had read or games I had played. Oscar's helmet was pointed at me the whole time, him watching behind his helmets mask. After a time he chucked,
'Here, let me help" he grunted, saying as he stood.
He stood directly behind me and I could feel the metal of his plate touch my back, as he put his palm over the top of my hand, his gloved hand blotting my small one out.
"Hold out your palm to the fire," he started, "and light it with the flame from within yourself" .
I felt oddly at peace with him standing vehind me, and I leaned back against his plate, blushing.
I mean, I wasn't sure if he could see me, but I could feel my cheeks get warm.
"Close your eyes and concentrate, you will see".
I closed my eyes and sighed, fully resting on him now. All I saw was darkness, but then, a small flame began to grow, glowing brightly. A spark jumped from my hand, and the bonfire lit, I squealed with glee, I was so happy! I knew I should control myself, but I didn't want to. I was happy I would have to go this alone, happy to have someone with me. Oscar let out a deep chuckle.
"Hahahahaha! Well done!"
He took a step back, and I fell back as he moved, but he caught me.
"I don't believe I've caught your name, young lass".
I straightened myself, took a step back from him, and looked at his dented helmet.
"Sarah" I said shyly as I curtsied.
"Pretty name for a pretty lass" he stated.
He's got manners...
He bowed.
"Oscar, knight of Astora, at your service."
I nodded, and he sat down at the bonfire. An eerie, ghostly gray glow appeared around him as he dipped his head, and black specks began to float around him. The Specks moved toward the fire, and embers from the bonfire moved toward him. At first, slowly, one by one they began to trade out, then in an instant hundreds were there. It was a fantastical light show, as more and more embers flew towards him, and the black ones flowing less frequently. The eerie grey turned to a brilliant white, then to a jet black, with white flittering off the outside, like a humanity sprite.
He stood, and held out his Estus Flask, and the dull green turned a bright red-orange as embers flowed into the container. He attached it to his belt. He took a second flask, and filled it in the same manner.
"Incredible..." I whispered.
Oscar looked towards me, then spazzed out as he dropped he flask, attempting to catch it as it fell out of his grip. I giggled. He picked it up, and making sure none of the contents had pilled, handed it to me.
"H-here, for you" he stuttered, obviously embarrassed.
I nodded curtly, and began to walk towards the shortcut I created, swaying my hips as I walked.
I looked over my shoulder to Oscar, who's helmet seemed to be pointed at my back, or something a bit lower than that area. I giggled.
"You coming, Oscar?" I asked.
He looked up immediately and faltered,
"Y-y-yes, Of course.
Oscar's armor rattled as he walked behind me up the double set of the run-down stairs.