Chapter 3

kubaelias- Actually, I'm doing a chapter involving Anri and Horace, I just need to figure out what route I should take.

Some pairings will have multiple chapters.


Ashen one and Sirris


Sirris couldn't help, but feel both dread and anxiety as she was marching down to her what used to be her grandfather. The man had been driven mad sometime ago and had been collecting the vertebrae of his victims so he could pile them up in a mound. Upon learning this, Sirris vowed to kill him so he won't hurt anyone innocent. The man that used to be her grandfather just chuckled upon seeing his granddaughter.

"Little Sirris has come to join my mound?" Asked Hodrick as he walked to her. "You will make a find prize to my pile." As Sirris was walking to her grandfather, dread began to fill her. What if she wasn't strong enough to beat her grandfather. She could barely fight off and kill the last assailant of Rosaria's fingers, only doing so with the help of an unkindled one. She prayed to the gods that someone will come to assist her as she doubted she had the skills to defeat her grandfather. Sure enough, she sensed a spirit arriving, which filled her with relief. She turned around and, to her shock, it was the same unkindled one that helped her before. Despite him wearing a complete different set of armor, the armor of dragon worshippers, she could tell it was him due to the aura of power and comfort he was giving off. Confidence renewed, she spoke to her grandfather.

"I finally found you. Just as I promised, grandad, remember?" Said Sirris as the Ashen one and her were marching to face her grandfather. Soon, after a certain distance, Hodrick charged at them, sword at the ready. The two dodged the attack and started fighting the mad man. The Ashen one started first, using an Irithyll straight sword against Hodrick, who simply raised his shield to block the attacks. Sirris, seeing her chance, attacked her grandfather, getting several stabs to his back. Hodrick seemed fazed by this and simply swung his sword at his granddaughter, getting her in the arm. Holding her arm in pain, Sirris watched as Hodrick kicked the Ashen one away before swinging his sword at Sirris. She dodged the first two attacks but was soon caught by the last two. One caught her in the stomach while the other grazed her face. Hodrick then bashed her with his shield and was about to slam his sword down at her when the Ashen one came from behind him and backstabbed him before kicking him away, pulling his blade away in the process. While the two undead fought each other, Sirris ran away from the fight in order to cast a healing miracle. Once she was a safe distance from the fight, she brought out her talisman and casted the healing miracle. She sighed in relief as the miracle healed her wounds. After casting the miracle, she went back into the fray. As she ran, she saw that her grandfather had casted some spells as she saw some strange orange orbs surrounding the battlefield and that he was covered in a red aura. The Ashen one was keeping a safe distance from him, waiting for an opportunity to present itself. The two were starring down at each other before Hodrick made his move. He rushed to the Ashen one, sword at the ready. The Ashen waited until the last moment to roll around Hodrick before stabbing him in the knee. Unfortunately, Hodrick saw this and rolled out of the way himself. He was about to attack the Ashen one again when he saw Sirris charging at them.

Chuckling in amusement, Hodrick acted like he didn't see her before slashing at her leg, much to her surprise. Before she could react, Hodrick slashed at her body multiple times before imbedding his sword into her waist, the jagged edges were firmly placed into her flesh and kicking her to the ground. Sirris coughed blood before looking at her grandfather, who just pulled out his sword, uncaring to his granddaughter's screams. He then raised his sword and was about lop off Sirris's head when the Ashen one had intervened and stabbed him in the torso. Growling in annoyance, Hodrick ignored Sirris in favor of fighting the Ashen one.

As the two fought, Sirris fumbled for her talisman, desperate to cast another healing miracle. To her dismay, it wasn't where it normally was. Hope fading, Sirris watched helplessly as the Ashen one fought Hodrick in an even battle. Unable to be the one to slay her grandfather, Sirris was left to pray for the Ashen one to do it. As her vision began to darken, Sirris thoughts went to the Ashen one.

"Please unkindled. Slay my grandfather." Thought Sirris before everything darkened.


Later


Sirris moaned as she got up, her whole body flaring in pain in protest over her actions. When she opened her eyes she saw that she was in a rundown home with a broken wall. From the broken wall, she saw that she was in the settlement that held her grandfather. She then felt a slight breeze, making her shiver. Wondering why this happened, she examined herself and gasped in shock and embarrassment. Her armor, aside from her headgear, was gone, replaced with old bandages and cloth to preserve her modesty. She was about to search for her armor when she heard footsteps. Sirris, having no weapon to defend herself, covered her chest despite some cloth being there. She was about to glare in defiance at whoever had taken her when she saw, to her relief, the Ashen one. Her relief turned to gratefulness when she saw that he carried her armor with him as well as her weapon. Seeing that Sirris was awake, the Ashen one sat next to her after placing her weapon and armor gently near her.

"You're a stubborn one, you know that." Said the Ashen one as he starred at her, his helmet preventing her from seeing his expression. "Had to drag you out of there through a secret entrance of Hodricks, find a safe spot for you so that you wouldn't be attacked by the villagers, and I had to fight countless undead just to get you some medicine and clothing." The Ashen one then sighed. "Are you okay?"

"No." Said Sirris, wincing a bit. It seemed Hodrick did a number on her. "Every time I speak and move, my body flares up in pain. It will be sometime until my body heals itself. Unless you managed to find my talisman."

"I have." Said the Ashen one before pulling out her talisman from his person. He then gave it to her, who clutched it in relief. "I suppose that talisman is special to you."

"It is." Said Sirris as she put the talisman away. She'll heal herself later when she had enough energy to do so. "From my time when my grandfather was still sane. Before he went hollow, he gave me this, saying that I would make a great knight one day. When he did went hollow, I vowed to kill him so that his name isn't smeared anymore." She then went crestfallen. "Only I didn't do so, you did. I failed my grandfather." Tears glistened her eyes before the Ashen one took her hand.

"It shouldn't matter who killed him." Said the Ashen one. "Why are you concerned with this." Sirris just sighed before speaking.

"You wouldn't understand." Said Sirris. "I only succeeded because of you. If it weren't for you there, my grandfather would have killed me. And there was the time that you saved me from that finger of Rosaria. I'm worthless as a knight."

"No, you're not." Said the Ashen one. "You fought against foes that any from the living would have struggled against and came out relatively unscathed." Sirris looked at the Ashen one in surprise.

"How did you know I wasn't undead?" Asked Sirris.

"You didn't drink from any Estus Flask." Said the Ashen one. "Nor when I offered you some back with our battle against the member of Rosaria's fingers."

"Even still, I don't think I'm worthy of a knight." Said Sirris, looking down. The Ashen one just sighed before speaking.

"Sirris, you are not worthless. I don't know how to convince you otherwise, but know that I don't think of you any lesser than I." Said the Ashen one before getting up. "We'll leave tomorrow. Rest for now. I'll take watch." Sirris just starred at the Ashen one as he made his way to the hole, standing watch in case any undead come for them. Her heart fluttered a bit as she watched him stay vigilant for her. Something that she wanted to be when she became a knight. As she watched him more, she thought back about her childhood. Back then, she was taught from birth that all undead were monsters and that they all should be killed off so that the living can live in peace. Yet this undead knight proved to be more honorable and chivalrous than some living knights that she encountered in her life.

"I could learn a lot from you." Thought Sirris before closing her eyes.


Later

Night


Sirris shivered under the blankets that the Ashen one had provided her. Despite being given multiple blankets, Sirris still felt cold. Even with the fireplace the Ashen one had made, it still wasn't enough to keep her warm. Looking at the Ashen one, she saw that he wasn't bothered by the cold and didn't seem to be tired at all despite being up for gods knows how long.

"An advantage of being undead it seems." Thought Sirris as she watched him stay silent. Soon a breeze came through the hole in the hall, causing Sirris to shiver more. Seeing this, the Ashen one went over to her and inspected her.

"What's wrong?" Asked the Ashen one as he watched Sirris shiver as she held herself. "Are you ill?"

"No." Said Sirris. "I'm just cold." Seeing the Ashen one stare at her, she explained. "Unlike you undead, the living have a myriad of minor problems like a need for food and sleep."

"I see." Said the Ashen one as he watched her shiver. "Would you like it if I kept you warm or hand you your armor?" Sirris just starred at the Ashen one. She would like her armor back, but she was still far too wounded to wear it without causing massive amount of pain. But…she was embarrassed to be near a man when wearing such scantily-clad attire, albeit the cloth and bandages covered her up nicely. Nevertheless, it seemed to be her only option.

"Just be gentle." Said Sirris as braced herself. The Ashen one just nodded in understanding before joining her under the blankets. To her surprise, the Ashen one was warm. Not as hot as she thought. She knew that he had used an ember on himself sometime ago and she could see the effect, but she thought that it would be a bit hotter than it was actually giving off. It felt warm and nice. So much so that Sirris cuddled the Ashen one, who looked at her strangely, never thinking that she would do something like this. As the two basked in the moonlight, Sirris began to speak.

"My grandfather used to tuck me in at night, saying that the world can be a better place if people like me fight to do so." Said Sirris. The Ashen one just stayed silent as she continued. "But…look how the world is. Lothric is in ruins. Countless other kingdoms have fallen to ruin and so have many countries. I fear that it's because of the Age of Fire. Do you not think so?"

"…I have questioned the need to continue the Age of Fire. If it is as grand as people say it is, why is the world in the state it is in now?" Asked the Ashen one. "Perhaps it is time for the Age of Fire to end."

"Perhaps." Said Sirris. "In either case, I believe it will be you that will link the fire next."

"I may as well be." Said the Ashen one. "The other unkindled are dead or have gone hollowed. It's just me."

"Did you know some of them?" Asked Sirris.

"All of them." Said the Ashen one before telling Sirris all about Anri, Horace, Siegward, and Hawkwood. And how they all died. After finishing, Sirris looked at the Ashen one in sympathy.

"I'm sorry about your friends." Said Sirris. "They all seem like good people."

"They were." Said the Ashen one. "Well, maybe not Hawkwood, but still. I miss them all."

"Just like my grandfather. I miss the person he used to be." Said Sirris. "My parents had died when I was young. It was my grandfather and grandmother that took care of me."

"It must have been hard for you to make a vow to slay him." Said the Ashen one. Sirris just nodded. "Do you think killing him yourself would have helped your conscious?"

"…I would have accepted it." Said Sirris. "I probably would have imagined my grandfather as a different person to who we faced before." The Ashen one just stayed silent. "Don't know if it would work, though."

"You should sleep." Said the Ashen one. "I'll stay awake and alert you if anyone tried to come and attack us." Sirris just nodded before going to sleep. Sometime later, she began to snuggle against the Ashen one.


The next day


Sirris was carefully putting her armor on while the Ashen one was waiting outside for her to finish. After putting her armor on, she brought out her talisman and healed herself. After doing so again, she stepped outside and confronted the Ashen one.

"I didn't say it before, but I'll say it now." Said Sirris. "Thank you for being there when I most needed it. You're a better knight than I'll ever be." Before the Ashen one can speak, Sirris continued. "If you wouldn't mind, may I take a vow to serve as your knight? You helped me twice now. It seems fair that I should repay you."

"I won't take your vow." Said the Ashen one. "Your own woman, Sirris. You shouldn't be under the servitude of others."

"I insist." Said Sirris, a bit surprised with the Ashen one. "Think of it as a way to help me become a better knight. Plus, it would help repay my debt to you." The Ashen one just starred at Sirris before speaking.

"I'll say it again, I won't accept your vow." Said the Ashen one, upsetting Sirris. "I rather that we fight alongside each other as comrades in arms instead of master and servant. Wouldn't that be better, Sirris?"

"I…don't know." Said Sirris. "You're obviously better than I. I don't think that we can ever be on equal terms."

"Being comrades in arms doesn't mean that you have to be as skilled as me." Said the Ashen one. "To me, being a comrade means that I consider you a friend and ally. Nothing more. So please, don't make a vow to me. Rather, fight alongside me as a friend." He then brought out his hand. Sirris looked at the hand for a bit before shaking it hesitantly.

"I don't know if I like doing something like this, but I'll give it a go." Said Sirris, secretly respecting the Ashen one for his beliefs. "Shall we go?"

"Actually." Said the Ashen one. "I found something in this settlement that we could use. Care to help me get it?" Sirris just nodded before the two walked further into the undead settlement, ready for whatever will come at them.