Greetings Readers: In this story, I plan to explore what it would be like to have two Chosen Undead in the world of Lordran, in this case the fraternal twins Flynn and Resa. I can't think of too many examples from Dark Souls where we know of any siblings (Quelaag and her folk, as well as Gwynevere/Gwyndolin), and I can't think of any examples off the top of my head where there are twins, either identical or fraternal.
Before I get underway, I want to lay down a few rules for this Lordran, most of which should seem pretty intuitive:
Healing spells cast by Resa can alternatively affect Flynn at her choice - Resa will be a cleric, and I feel like this is pretty straightforward.
No phantoms can be summoned, but the duo can be invaded - With 2 people already doing every boss fight, I don't feel the need for more than that. If NPC's rely on being summoned to advance their plot, that stipulation is ignored.
Now, I'll be showing the characters base stats at the beginning of each chapter, mainly so people can see naturally how they progress throughout the course of the game.
Flynn - Starting Class: Knight
SL5 - 14 VIT - 10 ATT - 10 END - 11 STR - 11 DEX - 10 RES - 9 INT - 11 FTH
Resa - Starting Class: Cleric
SL2 - 11 VIT - 11 ATT - 9 END - 12 STR - 8 DEX - 11 RES - 8 INT - 14 FTH
Also, this is being written for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 2017. The goal is 50,000 words on a new story by the end of November, so expect multiple updates a week until I hit that number.
All characters and locations besides Resa and Flynn are property of From Software and Bandai Namco.
Flynn
Thorolund. I knew that that was where I was from...or was it? Everything seemed so hazy now. The last thing I remembered was my home being assaulted, a group of clerics beating down our door and calling me and Resa 'Undead'. I'd heard the word...I'd learned to fear that word. For those labeled Undead, the only life was one of exile.
And that's exactly what happened. Resa and I were abducted in the middle of the night, uncharacteristically brazen clerics charging in with torches and pitchforks to drag us away for the rest of our unending lives.
I opened my eyes, finding myself in a small, confined cell littered with filth and corpses. I tried to get up and rush to the door but my strength seemed to be a fraction of what it use to be. I looked down at my bare, naked body, seeing what I'd become. My flesh was marred and distorted, and I realized I looked more like the corpses lining this cell than who I once was. I pulled myself to the bars of the cell, looking out to see an unending hallway in front of me, fading off into the darkness. Was this my life, to die so unceremoniously in this cage?
"Flynn...where are we?" I turned back around to face the cell, my sister's voice being the only thing I could focus on. Amidst the bodies in the room, though, I couldn't tell which one was her.
"Over here, you." I saw one of the bodies raise an arm and I lunged toward it, grasping her shriveled hand in my own.
"Resa, I'm going to get us out of here. I don't know how, or when, but we aren't going to rot in here." I helped her up, the two of us barely managing to stand on our unsightly feet. I moved back over to the door and tried to shake it open, but only managing to shake my own body slightly. It was locked, that much I could tell.
I turned back to Resa, not sure if my expression conveyed the frustration that I was feeling...not sure if I could convey any expression at all. "We're going to get out of here, I - "
I was interrupted by a hole being knocked in the ceiling, the rubble barely missing the two of us. I leaned over and looked up, seeing a man clad in heavy armor leaning down. "My name is Oscar of Astora. You seem to be less insane than the rest, though you've been here for years. Take these, they'll help you escape." He extended his hand and dropped a keyring before looking back up and disappearing into the ceiling.
...Years? We'd been in here for years? It only seemed like we had been captured yesterday, not years ago? My mind was racing with questions, but they were questions that I wasn't ready to face yet. Resa knelt down and picked up the key, turning back towards me. "It looks we'll be leaving after all. Come on, Flynn, let's go. She walked over to the door and reached her sickly arm through the gaps, managing to insert the key into the lock. Turning it proved to be more difficult for her and I reached my hand through the door, grasping onto her hand, and twisting. The lock clicked upon and the door creaked open, the grinding of metal echoing through the endless hallway as the two of us began pushing it open with all our might.
As I looked out into the hall, I saw several more undead lining the walls, mindlessly beating the walls or just simply...standing there. Perhaps Oscar was right...we were less insane than the rest, if this was the standard of life around here. I wasn't about to walk around this place defenseless, especially if we were the only two people here that had any sort of sense.
I looked back in our cell and found the remains of several weapons, the blades of which had been broken and rusted off over the years...they would have to do. I picked two up and handed one to Resa. "Carry this...I hope we don't have to use it, but I'm doubting it."
She grasped the weapon and held it timidly, looking at it with the fear I expected from my sister. I grasped her hand, looking into her sunken eyes. "Okay, I understand. I'll protect you, don't worry."
I kept hold of her hand as I began shuffling forward down the hallway, keeping an eye on the mindless people, if I could even call them that, that we passed by. They seemed completely docile, more willing to continue endlessly banging on the wall than looking at us, and we eventually made it the end of the hall.
We walked into a circular room, with a single ladder rising up to the next floor. "See, we're fine. Nothing's going to hurt us here. We'll get out of here and go...somewhere. Maybe we can journey to Astora...I think we owe Oscar that much."
Resa nodded, looking back towards the ladder. "That does sound nice...we've only ever known Thorolund, but there's no chance we'd be allowed to return there. Come on, let's keep going. We'll get out of here soon.
I began climbing up the ladder, my arms barely able to hold my own body weight. I don't understand why I felt so...so weak. In Thorolund I'd been one of the strongest knights in our ranks, capable of wielding weapons others could only dream of. Now...now the hilt of a broadsword seemed like it was heavier than a greatsword used to be. To say it was demoralizing was...inadequate.
Resa ascended the ladder behind me, and eventually the two of us made it into a courtyard of some sort. In the center of it sat a single, dim, bonfire, embers dancing around in the open air. Cautiously I advanced toward it, the barest hint of heat that was still radiating from it far more enticing than the chilled air all around us.
I extended my hand out as I approached the bonfire, desperate for more warmth. I felt a sudden twinge, not painful, as I did so, and the bonfire seemed to burst back into life, the once-dim fire now warming my entire body. The feeling was invigorating...no...intoxicating. I turned back to Resa and motioned her onwards, anxious to let her enjoy the lone heat in this desolate prison.
"Let's just stay here for a while, Flynn. It feels so...so good." I could tell she enjoyed the feeling just as much as I did, the fire warming our bodies and minds, bringing with it a strange sense of comfort that I'd never experienced before. I didn't want to leave, and I knew she didn't either.
I can't remember how long we sat there, the two of us huddled next to the fire. Eventually I turned back to her, seeing her hollowed form asleep on the ground. "Resa...Resa wake up. Let's get out of here. There can't be that much more of this place until we're outside."
"But...why do we need to leave? It's so nice right here, is it not? It's cold everywhere else...I don't like the cold." It was hard to disagree with her...the warmth drew me in just as much, but I knew that if I let it take hold, like it was for Resa, we'd never leave here.
"Sister, you said we would journey to Astora, no? We can't do that if we stay here. I agree, the warmth is...nice, but we need to be moving." I was trying to convince myself of this more than anything, and seeing my sister content next to the fire made it even more difficult for me to try and remove her from here.
I stood up, finding myself much lighter on my feet now than previously. Perhaps it was the bonfire...did it restore strength? Whatever it was, though I still looked withered, I felt as strong as I was back in Thorolund, the dagger in my hand now light as a feather. Using this to my advantage, I knelt down and took Resa by the hand, lifting her up.
"Flynn...okay. But we have to return, understand? It just feels so nice next to the fire." It seemed like Resa was back to her hold self as well, able to hold herself far better than she just had been.
I responded with a nod, and began looking around the courtyard. There were two doors leading out of the area, a smaller one to our right and a much larger one straight ahead. I tried the smaller door first, but found it to be bolted shut. I shook it, able to actually rattle the door as opposed to my own body, but found it to be firmly locked in place. I turned back to Resa, who had moved back to huddle around the bonfire.
"Resa...come on."
It seemed as if I'd awoken her from a slumber by the way she jumped when I said her name, looking up at me. "Yes, I know...I don't know what compelled me...it just seemed so nice. Where are we going?"
"The only way out of here is the large doors. Hopefully that's the front entrance, or the back, I can't really tell. Only one way to find out." Taking her hand I advanced up towards the massive doors, which appeared to be rusted shut from years of no usage. I wondered how many other undead had made it to where we were now, how many others had managed to break the madness and exit.
I leaned into the doors with all my weight, managing to budge one the slightest bit before it stopped moving. To call it heavy would be doing it a disservice...I didn't want to know what kind of creature needed a door that was that large. "Resa, a little help?"
She walked up next to me and together we pushed against the door, this time able to move it with her help. It began to slowly creak open, the unbearable shrieking of rusted metal nearly deafening.
We eventually opened it up enough that we could slip through and what we found ourselves in was...some sort of common room? I wasn't exactly sure, all I knew was that it wasn't the outside. I looked to my side at Resa, who was just as distraught as I was.
Suddenly, a loud crash turned both of us straight ahead, to a truly terrifying sight. Up on the roof was...well, I wasn't entirely sure. It was absolutely hideous, with thick gray skin and a face not even a mother could love. It was holding a body...based on the garb it looked to be Oscar, and with a single swing of a massive hammer Oscar flew all the way across the room and back through the courtyard, where I could hear him crash into the roof. The beast then turned to the two of us and jumped down from the ceiling, a deafening roar piercing the crisp air. The monstrosity began charging at the two of us, and I looked back at Resa. "I'll distract it, you find a way out of here!"
The two of us dove to either side of the hammer as it came crashing down, the weapon several times my size and weight. I looked down at the hilt that I had been calling a weapon up until this point and back at the demon. I could see Resa running around frantically, the experience simply too much for her. She had never been much for violence, instead choosing to tend to the wounded as a cleric back in Thorolund. The most she'd ever had to worry about there though were wolves and the occasional bandit raid...nothing like the demon that was assaulting us now.
I took to the offensive, rushing forward to the beat and plunging my sword directly into its flesh. I did so several more times, doing everything I could to draw its attention away from Resa. Much to my dismay, the pathetic weapon didn't even seem to break its skin, the beast's thick hide far too much for the hilt to deal with.
The demon's hammer caught me off guard in a moment of weakness and sent me flying across the room, crashing into the wall. My mind went fuzzy as the world turned to blackness around me, and I fell to the ground. I shakily got back on my feet, my ears ringing from the pain, my eyes barely functioning as my vision darkened around the edges.
"Flynn! Over here!"
I could tell it was Resa's voice, and I shook my head around frantically, trying to pinpoint her location. I heard her call out again and I found her on the far wall, pointing towards a doorway. She was waving toward me, beckoning me towards her. As I began dashing towards her I stumbled, my strength failing me as I fell to my hands and feet, continuing to crawl towards her.
Just as I got halfway across the room I could see her face contorted in fear, stopping to look at me and instead looking behind me. I turned my head back over my shoulder to see the demon glaring down at me, its arms reaching back over its head as it bared the giant hammer. The head of the weapon came crashing down right on top of me, my vision immediately fading to black.
Resa
"Flynn!" I cried out as I watched the massive demon crush my brother under the weight of such a monstrous weapon, annihilating him on the spot. I shut my eyes, the pain welling in my heart at the trauma I'd just experienced. He...he was gone. I opened my eyes, looking up to see…
The fire. I looked around, frantic, disorientation wracking my body. I was back in the courtyard, just outside the room we were just in. Right next to me was Flynn. He was staring aimlessly into the fire, his mind looking completely lost.
"Flynn, what happened?" I grasped his arm and shook him, rousing him from his stupor. He shook his head momentarily, before looking around at the room.
"I...I died, didn't I? That demon, it crushed me. I saw it, I felt it...how did I get here?" He looked at himself, and at me, before continuing. "How did you get here? Why didn't you run?"
"I don't know...I hoped you would. One moment I saw the beast attacking you, and the next moment I was sitting by the fire. Is this...is this what it means to be undead?" I stood up, helping Flynn to his feet, and looked back at the door. It was still cracked from when we had opened it previously...it seemed like the world was just as we'd left it. "There's a door on the left wall. Let's make a break for it, I can't bear to see that happen again."
Flynn put his hand on my shoulder, the look he gave me probably meant to be one of reassurance, but it was hard to tell given how marred his flesh was. "Resa, I'll distract it while you get in there. I'll be careful, I promise, and I'll bolt as soon as you're safe."
I gently shook my head, barely enough for him to notice. This was the Flynn that I knew, throwing himself into danger to keep others out of it. I knew not to argue with him like this...he was unyielding. I nodded, and the two of us advanced towards the massive iron doors again. I could already hear the thunderous footsteps of that demon from the other side of the doors. I slipped through the gap in the two doors and saw myself face-to-face with the demon once again. It began charging towards me, its massive torso making the movement somewhat awkward. I began rushing towards the left wall, seeing the doorway just barely within reach. I looked behind me, seeing Flynn glaring down the demon, the miniscule weapon in his hand dwarfed by the hammer that the demon wielded. He waved me onwards and I continued running to the door, watching as he narrowly dodged a swing of the hammer.
I reached the doorway and dove inside, finding myself in a small hallway. "Flynn! Come on!" He was still face-to-face with the beast, trying to look as intimidating as possible. He looked back over to me and immediately began running towards the door. The monster turned to him and craned its head, before starting to waddle after him.
Thankfully, Flynn made it first, diving into the doorway just as another swing of the hammer came crashing down. Dust and rocks flew through the hallway from the impact and I shielded my eyes, waiting for it all to settle before continuing on.
"Like I said, I'll be careful." Flynn got up and brushed himself off, knocking me on the shoulder playfully.
"I know you and I have very different definitions of careful, but we made it. Now, let's find a way out of there that doesn't involve dying."
Flynn's expression turned grim as we walked down the short hallway. "Actually, I think a fight might be inevitable. There was a massive door on the far end of the room with that...that thing. I saw a keyring wrapped around that beast's neck. Only way we'll have enough time to pry it off is if it's not moving."
"But, but no! There has to be some other way out. I saw you attacking that thing, you were barely scratching it. I even if we can't really die, I don't plan to spend my life attacking that thing forever hoping that we eventually defeat it. There has to be some other way." We walked up to another bonfire, this one as dim as the previous one when we first encountered it. I recalled what Flynn did when he first came up to it, and held my hand out. Just as before, the bonfire burst into flames, and I felt an awkward jolt in my arm as it did so, as if my very being was what lit the fire.
"Believe me, I am hoping for another way out as well. I'm just saying we need to prepare for the worst. Let's rest for a bit...we've earned it."
I took a seat next to the fire, feeling the warmth wrap around me like a blanket as I approached the fire. The flames flickered and danced before my eyes, drawing me further in. Something about the embers was...enchanting. The more I sat there, the less I wanted to leave, the simple flame somehow the most interesting thing I'd ever laid eyes on.
"Come on, Resa, we've waited long enough. Let's try and get out of here, right?" I shook my head, forcing myself to look away from the flames. He was right...I had no clue how long I'd been sitting there, but I knew that staying further could be dangerous. Without Flynn here...I might have never left. I stood up and nodded, grasping the makeshift weapon I'd left unused up until this point. Unlike the undead we'd passed earlier, that demon clearly had no problem with killing us...fear wracked my body. I knew that death wasn't the end, but that didn't make it any less terrifying. If Flynn could remember every detail of his death...I couldn't imagine the trauma that must cause to a mind.
"I scoped out what's ahead. There's another undead at the end of the next hallway, but this one's armed with a bow and seems keen to use it. I think I saw an alcove to the left. Let me block the hits so you can get in there. If it's dangerous, get out of there."
I put my hand on his shoulder, grasping it firmly. "Flynn...thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you." I smiled, knowing full well the expression was lost given how I currently looked.
The two of us advanced towards the long hallway, and I peeked out from behind him to see it for myself. Just as he had said, there appeared to be a lone undead at the end of the hallway. Upon seeing us, it raised its bow and notched an arrow, lining peering down the shaft of the arrow directly at us. I heard the snap of the bowstring as soon as the undead fired the arrow and both of us easily dodged it, the projectile embedding into the wall behind us.
I pushed against Flynn's back as the undead began to reload. "We've got time, let's just go." He began advancing forward and I followed behind him, staying behind the silhouette of my brother as he made a break for the alcove. I followed in behind him just as the undead raised its bow once again, the arrow that followed lodging itself into the frame of the stone entryway.
Inside, I saw the remains of two bodies. They had been stripped of all their clothing, the two undead only carrying one thing each: a shield. One of the shields was smaller and wooden, while the other was much larger and made entirely of steel. I didn't even get a chance to think further as Flynn knelt down and slid his arm into the straps of the steel shield. He held out his other hand that was holding the wooden shield, offering it to me. "Here, this should keep you safe if you ever get caught off guard. I know you won't want to use it, but please...for me."
I crossed my arms, taking the shield and sliding it across my arm. It fit snugly, and the weight wasn't anything unreasonable. "Next time, at least give me a choice please. Not that I'd be able to carry something that heavy, but...oh, you know."
Flynn chuckled, patting me on the shoulder. "Resa, I'm not going to let you get hurt, ever. If that means I'm going to be under constant attack, then that's a risk I'm more than willing to take. However, I've got to be able to survive that. If you really want this I'll let you have it, but you've got to be willing to step in and take a few hits."
I pushed the shield away, holding up my own. "You know me well enough to know that's not what I do. Now come on, brave knight, and be the stalwart defense you so claim to be." I held back a laugh, the two of us walking back out towards the hallway.
Flynn ripped the arrow out from the entryway and lifted up his shield, raising it to cover the entirety of his midsection. "Now, I know you're tired of hearing me say this, but stay behind me. I won't even feel a thing, he's got pretty weak arrows, and I've got a slab of steel."
He advanced out to the hallway and immediately blocked an incoming arrow with the shield, the projectile dropping to his feet. I slipped out right behind him as he began to advance, staying behind his frame. Several more times I heard the twang of an arrow go flying across the hallway, only for the shield to catch it perfectly. As we neared the end of the hallway I watched Flynn raise up his shoddy weapon, bringing his arm back and then forward as he lashed at the undead.
I hid my eyes, not wanting to watch. I heard the rusted metal scrape across flesh several times, each one bringing with it a howl of pain. It was necessary...if Flynn didn't kill him, it would be the other way around. It was such a different mindset compared to Thorolund, where I could simply tend to the injured as necessary. It seemed Flynn had adapted to it much faster than I had, seemingly holding no restraints on beating down the undead that was before us.
Eventually, the attacking stopped, and I uncovered my eyes to see Flynn, staring right at me. "It's okay. I know you're not ready for all this yet, and it's scary. I'll do the killing for right now, alright?"
I gave him a terse nod as a response, and the two of us continued on. We moved to the back of the hall and found two more bodies. As opposed to before, these were fully covered, wearing full garb as well as still clutching their weapon. One of them appeared to be a knight of some sort, wearing extremely heavy armor and gripping a rather large sword. The other, based on the clothes, seemed to be another cleric hailing from Thorolund. I recognized the yellowed fabric immediately, nearly identical to what I wore before...all this.
Flynn turned back around to me, motioning to the two corpses. "Alright, this one's your choice if you're still mad about the shields. Take your pick."
I knelt down, inspecting the two pieces. I lifted up the knight's helmet, grasping it firmly in my hands. It certainly had a good weight to it, and would offer plenty of protection. I glanced over at Flynn out of the corner of my eye, seeing him quite worried. I tossed the helmet at him, catching him off guard. "Did you seriously think I'd get in all that? I don't think I'd be able to move. Besides, you know I'm use to wearing those robes."
Flynn picked up the helmet, donning it and fastening it. "Thank goodness, I didn't know what I'd do if you gave me that cloth. Now let's gear up. With real weapons, we might be able to take that demon down."
I knelt down, reaching for the cleric's garb. It felt strange, putting on the clothes of a deceased man, but it was better than running bare. I donned the fabrics quickly, even bothering to put the mace that the man was holding into a loophole on the side.
"Hey, Resa, can you strap me in? I don't see how one person is supposed to put this on. The straps are all the way back there but the arms just...yeah." He was reaching his arms back, trying to fasten the straps that were comically out of reach. I walked over to him and tightened up the armor, the heavy metal plates all falling into place around his form. It looked heavy, extremely so. I was surprised Flynn was able to move around as well as he did after hefting up the broadsword, swinging the weapon over his shoulder. With the heavy armor, metal shield, and sword, he looked like an immovable object, a force that would go to any length to defend what was important to him...like me.
I pulled the mace out from the folds of my cloak as the two of us continued walking down the hallway, until it opened up into a central area. We were overlooking the central courtyard again, this time from the second floor. Flynn grabbed my arm, motioning over to the right side of the overlook. "There was a door that was locked down below. I'll go open it up, should give us a shortcut if we need it. Stay safe, be back shortly." He walked off to the right wing of the upper floor, the metal armor clanking with each minute movement that he took.
I looked over to the left side of the area, taking a few cautious steps over to peer around the corner. Up ahead was a broken staircase with a mutilated corpse hanging over the edge, a rusted iron ring embedding itself on one of its fingers. Nearly gagging at the sight, I turned back and walked back to the entrance. Flynn walked back up the stairs shortly thereafter, giving me a thumbs up.
"Looks like there's a third floor to this place. I didn't see any other way out of here. Might be worth a look. I'll admit, I'm itching to see what I can do with a real blade."
"Well then, after you, brave knight." I waved him onwards towards the stairs, ready and willing to follow after my brother. He moved over to the stairwell, walking up to the top level of the facility. I followed him up the stairs -
"Resa, look out!" Flynn turned around, splaying his arms to his sides I watched as a massive boulder began rolling down from behind him, colliding with him squarely on the back. I was frozen in fear as I watched the boulder continue onwards, crushing him beneath its massive weight.
Flynn
I awoke next to the bonfire again, out in the courtyard. Resa was next to me, and I could tell that she was traumatized by the sight that she saw. The pain, the crushing pain...it had happened twice now, and I could remember each of them as vividly as the present. I could only imagine how it must have been for my sister to see it happen.
I stood up, slinging the broadsword over my shoulder. "Come on Resa. That boulder can't hit us twice, can it?"
I helped her up, diverting her attention from the bonfire. The door that I had previously opened was still as it was, and I walked up the stairs, back to where we were. I turned back to the stairs, advancing, but Resa tugged on my armor.
"Flynn...the boulder's not here. I'm not sure what's going on, but be careful."
I nodded, looking back up the stairs, and then down at my own armor. "I...I hate to put you in this situation, but could you check? I don't think I could get out of the way in time even if you gave me a warning. This stuff is just too bulky." I shifted uncomfortably in the heavy armor. In truth, it took most of my effort just to move in this stuff, I couldn't imagine rolling out of the way of something.
To my surprise, I found myself being embraced in a hug. "Flynn, I've waited my whole life for you to realize you can't do everything yourself. Yes, I can do that. If you want to go back to being my stalwart knight immediately afterwards, I won't argue. Now get out of the path just in case I've got to dive."
Begrudgingly, I took a few steps back to stay clear of the staircase as Resa took a few tentative steps forward. An instant later, I saw her dive off the right side of the stairs, down onto the stairs coming from the courtyard, as the boulder came rolling down again. The boulder plowed through the back wall where I heard a loud crash as it collided with something else.
Resa brushed herself off and moved back up to join me, giving an awkward smile. "See, no big deal. I can handle myself from time to time."
From my position I could still see over her shoulder, noticing that the hole the boulder had put in the wall had not been to the outside. I could see Resa looking up at me, confused. I pointed it out to her. "It looks like there's some sort of hidden room that got broken into. Might be worth our time before we continue onwards...down that hallway and we're back to where that demon is."
Nodding, the two of us walked into the small room, finding...Oscar. When the knight had been flung by that beast earlier, he must have ended up here. I looked up at the ceiling, finding a hole in the wall that proved my suspicion. Now, Oscar was halfway buried under a pile of rubble, only his head and arms uncovered in the debris.
I was pushed out of the way as Resa swept in towards him, taking hold of one of his hands. "Oscar...Oscar, say something!" I moved up next to him, kneeling down to be level with Resa. Much to my surprise, Oscar did manage to respond.
"I...I have done what I set out to do. I have freed the undead...please, hear my tale, so you can continue where I have failed."
I shook my head...I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Next to me, Resa solemnly nodded. "Please, continue, we will listen."
Oscar coughed, the action coughing a shift in the rubble, which elicited a groan from the dying knight. "There is an old saying in my family. Thou who art undead art chosen. In thine exodus from the undead asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of ancient lords. When thou ringeth the bell of awakening, the fate of the undead, thou shalt know. Now please...leave me be, but first, take this." The knight reached down into the rubble and fished out two odd, iridescent orange bottles. "An Estus flask...a staple of the undead. I hope it will prove useful to you on your mission."
My mind was awash with so many emotions, I couldn't even begin to process them. Confusion ran rampant through my head, the words Oscar just spoke making no sense to me. Next to me, I could see Resa beginning to tear up, her decrepit figure lightly shaking as the emotions took hold of her.
I took the two flasks and pocketed one away, holding onto the other to hand to my sister. I took Oscar's hand, grasping it in my own. "Knight of Astora...you have done us a service I will never be able to repay. I will return for you, when I am stronger, and I will do everything in my power to rescue you. Just please...stay safe." I didn't know if he could even hear my words...I didn't know if he could hear anything.
Suddenly, Oscar started coughing again, followed by grunts as the rubble caved in on him further. "Don't come back for me...I'd hate to hurt you when I pass. Now go, slay the demon of the asylum, and maketh thine exodus." His hand fell limp in my own, as it dropped down to rest on the pile of rubble.
I curled my fists, anger flowing through me. Oscar...he was a good man, better than I'd ever be. "You're not dying here. Not like this. You're going to see through your family's prophecy, damn it." I looked down to Resa, the tears still flowing down her malformed cheeks. "Sister...can you save him?"
She shook her head solemnly. "I wouldn't be able to get the chestpiece off to see the damage. There's...there's nothing I can do like this."
I looked at the rubble covering the knight, determination flowing through me. "You go search for something, anything, that could save him. I'm digging him out of this, no matter what. Please don't fight me on this, sister."
"I won't. I know that voice well enough to know not to argue. I'll search for something, just...be careful."
Resa
I turned around, leaving the small room. Something to save him...I didn't even know where to start. I'd never done more than simple medicine and bandages. I'd only learned how to tend to slashes, pierces, and bites...not being crushed. Still, my brother was determined, and I wasn't about to let him down.
I walked up the stairway, searching around. Strangely enough, the hallway was more or less empty, besides the typical filth on the walls and floor. However, up ahead, I saw yet another corpse lying on the ground, this one completely bare. I rushed up to it, hoping that, like the previous ones, it could offer me some sort of help. I knelt down, inspecting it.
I only found one item on it, something I'd only seen a few other times in my life: a talisman. To the everyday eye it looked like a bundled piece of cloth, but I'd spent enough time around the wounded to see it used on occasion. They were capable of miracles from what I'd seen...capable of restoring life to an otherwise hopeless body. If there was anything that would be capable of saving Oscar, it would be this.
However, doubt crossed my mind...I'd never used a talisman before. I had no clue if I had any latent ability to perform these miracles, and even if I did, how I was suppose to. Still, I pried the simple item off of the corpse, and rushed back to where I'd left Flynn. He had already cleared a surprising amount of the rubble, exposing the majority of Oscar's torso. He was working on uncovering his legs now, removing the final pieces of debris from the dying knight. As soon as I walked in, he turned back to me. "Please...please tell me you found something. Anything."
I held up my finding, eliciting a curious expression from my brother. "It's a talisman. I've seen them used in the infirmary on occasion, but I'll admit I don't know how to use them. Still, I've seen them save lives that were otherwise were lost. Is he still alive?"
"I...I don't know. I can't feel a pulse on him, and I can't find a way to see if he's breathing behind all that armor.. I couldn't find a pulse on myself either so I don't know what to make of that."
"Okay well...give me a moment. I don't know the process for this, but if he's alive, hopefully this can cure him." I knelt down next to Oscar, slipping off one of his gauntlets as well as one of my own, holding his exposed flesh. I wasn't surprised to meet green, shriveled flesh, evidence of his undeath. It explained why he was carrying the Estus flasks.
I closed my eyes and held up the talisman, focusing all my mind on the man before me. "Gods, if you can hear me...bring life to this man. He is valiant and kind, and deserves more than what he has been given. Please, gods...heal this man."
I kept my eyes shut, tenderly holding Oscar's hand. I couldn't bear to look up, to see his limp body still lying there, my efforts futile. I'd done everything I could, and yet in my gut, I doubted it would be enough to save him.
Suddenly, I felt his hand twitch. It was nearly imperceptible, and I initially wrote it off as my own optimism. But then, I felt it again, this time more noticeable than before. A moment later and I heard him coughing, his hand shaking from the action. I looked up, tears beginning to well in the corners of my eyes. Was he...alive?
Oscar stumbled forward, but Flynn caught him, holding the Astoran Knight over his shoulder. "Easy, Oscar. Don't exert yourself too much, you've done plenty. How are you feeling?"
Oscar coughed again, his knees giving out. "I...I owe both of you my life. Tell me, what are the names of my saviors?"
I stood back up, brushing myself off. "My name is Resa, and this is my brother Flynn. Believe me Oscar, when I say that we too owe you our lives as well. Without you, we would have spent eternities in that cell. Now please, you are still weak. We will take you to a bonfire, where you can heal your wounds." I hunched down and took the Astoran's other arm, putting it across my shoulders.
With Flynn's help, we managed to take him back to the courtyard bonfire, where we were able to set him down. I took his hand, holding it tenderly. "Please, sit and rest. Take as much time as you need."
Oscar stared deeply into the fire, gently nodding. "Thank you, Resa. Please, slay the demon of the asylum...only then can we escape this wretched place."
I nodded before getting back. Flynn turned to look Oscar dead in the eyes, hefting his broadsword over his shoulder. "I will show it no mercy for attacking you. You have my word, knight of Astora." He turned back towards the staircase, motioning for me to follow him. I did so, gripping my talisman tightly. Now...now I felt like I had purpose, something I could do. I could heal, heal in ways I'd only dreamt of before. Flynn, Oscar, anyone...I could save the unsavable.
Flynn and I moved down to the end of the hallway where I'd found the talisman, and rounded the corner. On the other side, we saw three undead, one all of them armed with either sword hilts or bows. Flynn attacked them furiously, his broadsword and shield able to easily dispatch the relatively helpless undead.
Flynn turned around, facing a closed door. "If my memory serves me right, through this door will be that, what did Oscar call it, asylum demon? I know you're not much for combat, but I'm going to need your help if we're going to live through this. Keep me safe, okay sister?"
I held up the talisman, trying to fake confidence. "I'll do my best, Flynn, you know that. Just give me some space. I don't think that hammer is going to be as easy to dodge as the boulder, and it's going to hurt much worse."
Flynn hefted up his shield. "Actually...yeah, it hurt much worse. Anyways, let's go demon hunting." I was a bit put off by the grim comment, but didn't want to press the matter. Flynn flung the metal doors wide open, carving the path. I didn't even get time to react before he gripped the broadsword in two hands, and jumped down from the ledge.
I rushed to the entry of the door, my head nearly spinning. It looked like the entire third floor of the building had crumbled away, leaving me 15 feet above the first floor. Down below, Flynn had taken his sword down the demon's back, a trail of black ichor gushing from the open wound. Once he landed on the ground he brought up his shield, putting himself in a defensive stance.
I looked at the dizzying height, fear freezing my legs. I couldn't jump...there's no way I'd survive the fall. Still, from down here, I didn't know if my miracles would be able to reach Flynn. I'd been holding Oscar's hand when I healed him, but I had no way to know if that was a requirement or not.
I watched as Flynn and the demon engaged in combat, Flynn's shield somehow managing to sustain him through the brutal swings of the much larger demon. The way he held the shield seemed to deflect the blows that came down upon him, making them land effortlessly to the side. Every time, he'd dash in for a few quick hits, each one causing more black ichor to spout from the stabs.
Suddenly, the demon began lifting itself off the ground. I looked at its back… it had tiny wings, wings that gave it no right to be able to fly, and yet here it was, defying everything I'd ever seen. A moment later and it came crashing down, causing an eruption on the stone floor that sent Flynn flying.
"Brother!" I reached out grasping for him, as he was sent flying into the wall. I could feel myself losing my balance, my reach throwing my center of gravity too far forward. I began falling from the ledge, and I whipped around, grasping for a handhold. I managed to grab onto what I was just standing on, but only for a moment, as my glove immediately began to slip loose. I fell crashing down to the floor, unable to stop myself.
When I hit the cold stone it knocked all of the breath out of my lungs, pain immediately welling up in my back from the loose rocks that had embedded them in myself. My vision was momentarily darkened, and once it returned, I felt adrenaline coursing through my body. The demon had turned to look at me, momentarily forgetting about Flynn. It raised up it's massive hammer and began bringing it down, right on top of me. I shielded my eyes, my body too paralyzed by fear to be able to do anything else..
"No you don't, demon!" I looked up, finding my brother over top of me. He held his shield up as he knelt down, the crushing weight of the blow breaking the ground at his feet. The demon lifted its hammer up again and brought it down, causing Flynn to buckle even further, the shield somehow managing to keep him alive.
"Not to be needy, sister, but I can't take much more of this - agh!" A third swing, this one horizontal, sent Flynn flying into a wall again. The demon turned to focus on him, and I took the moment to get up to my feet, grabbing the talisman I had dropped during my fall.
I was still alive...which meant Flynn was too. I held out the talisman, focusing on my brother. "Gods...please, don't let him die. He is my rock, my sword, and my shield...heal him."
I looked up, finding Flynn, still panting on the ground. Did it not work. I still didn't know the first thing about casting miracles, other than that I'd been able to do it once. I saw the demon raising up it's hammer once again, poised and ready to send my brother to the afterlife yet again.
Just as the hammer started descending, Flynn tucked his arms by his side, throwing his weight towards the demon as he started to roll towards it. "Much obliged, sister!"
A layer of panic dropped from my shoulders as Flynn narrowly avoided the swing, moving to stand near the demon's feet. So I could protect him from afar...that was reassuring. Flynn moved to stand up near the demon's feet, taking the moment to puncture its flesh even further with his broadsword. The demon was started to look pretty worse for wear at this point, the numerous wounds on its legs causing its steps to be clumsy.
Still, it seemed to holding its own, bringing another thunderous blow down on Flynn. He deflected the swing with his shield, diving in to get another few swings off on the creature. The demon let out a pained howl, its left leg collapsing under its own weight.
As it fell, Flynn continued his relentless assault, diving towards the demon's protruding belly and slashing mercilessly at the exposed flesh. The demon let out howl after howl, until eventually, it fell limp.
Much to my surprise, the demon seemed to dissipate into an explosion of white mist, until that mist started to draw itself towards us, seeping in through the pores of my skin, as well as Flynn's. The feeling was unlike anything I'd experienced before, invigorating my very core.
Where the demon fell sat the keyring, which had been wrapped around the demon's neck. Flynn walked over to it, picking up the hefty item. It had a lone key on it, comically sized at nearly a foot long. Flynn walked over to the massive door on the far side of the room, lifting up the key.
While he did that, I noticed something else on the floor. It was strange thing, an odd, black sprite. It seemed completely harmless, so I picked it up, staring at it. It had no distinguishable features besides the black outline. I saw no reason to pocket it away, and so I did. Still...I couldn't help but wonder what it was.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the massive door screeching open, Flynn forcing the door open with all his might. Eventually, he managed to swing it wide open, and my heart leaped with joy as I saw the outside.
I walked over to him, having to resist the urge to walk outside and be free of this place. "Let's get Oscar...you did it, Flynn. You defeated the demon."
He turned to me, shaking his head. "No, we defeated it. Had you not saved me, I would have been dead, and we'd be running back here. Don't sell yourself short...I have a feeling I'm going to owe you my life numerous times. But yeah, let's tell Oscar the good news."
The two of us walked back to the courtyard, slipping through the doors we'd been through earlier. On the other side sat Oscar, still staring mindlessly into the bonfire. I walked up to him, looking at him. "We did it, Oscar. The demon of the Asylum has been slain. Tell me, how are you feeling?"
I extended my hand, helping Oscar to his feet. "I'm quite well, and I have you to thank for that, Resa. Thank you two for defeating that which I could not."
Flynn grasped the Astoran's shoulder, leading him onwards. "Believe me, its death was a most satisfying experience. With it gone, we can escape this godforsaken asylum."
The three of us walked onwards, out to the door we'd just unlocked. The outside was bizarre, a strange, grassy hill leading up to a point out in the distance. Numerous broken walls lined the area, suggesting that the asylum had been crumbling over the years. I turned to Oscar, looking around. "How...and where, do we leave."
The Astoran simply pointed up to the top of the hill, off in the distance. "I've seen ravens, ravens as large as that demon, roosting there. I believe they have a nest. We may be able to grab hold of one, and see where it takes us. Undead are delivered here by the ravens, surely they must lead us off."
I wanted to doubt him, but I didn't know what I could doubt anymore. We were undead, and that was new. Flynn and I had been reborn twice, something I'd have previously said was impossible. We'd just slain a demon so grotesque it was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Though I might have questioned Oscar further, given the events of the day, I wasn't about to doubt him.
We took a few careful steps up to the top of the hill, eventually standing on an overlook. We were on the top of a cliff, a cliff that was miles above anything else. How that was built, and maintained, I wasn't about to question.
Oscar took a few steps forward, pointing to the lone bird's nest on the hill. "We wait here. The ravens will come...the prophecy of the undead must come true."
It felt strange, the three of us nestling down into a bird's nest. I don't know how long we waited, the three of us sitting uncomfortably close to each other, having to more or less curl into a ball to fit inside the nest.
I heard a caw in the distance, and then several more. I looked up just in time to see several sets of pitch black wings descending upon us, wings home to birds that were, indeed, as large as the demon Flynn and I had just fought. I was snatched up by one of the birds, Flynn and Oscar being abducted as well, the three of us being carried off into the distance. I blacked out from the intense speeds my body was being subjected to, as I was carried off into the distance.
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