Chapter 2: Ash Seekth Embers
I felt it… The fire of life coming alive within my body once more. I hear it… the bell is tolling in my ear once more but that's not possible. The bell no longer tolls for there is no bell. The fire within me can no longer reawaken for the fires have faded. Regardless I felt myself awakening once more from my eternal slumber. I felt almost akin to when I awoke the first time the bell tolled, or rather the first time I can remember. I do not know how I became ash in the first place and subjugated to the life under the God's little game. I can't remember if I had a life before the fires consumed me. If I had a family. If I had a life.
I clenched my fists and pulled my head upwards to look around for something and found the darkness to be smothering me. The abyss has taken hold of my surroundings in a way that nothing can be seen around me. I held up my hand and found that even my own ember has burnt out. The one I know I had once I fell into this slumber. Though fire is in my body once more if I'm awake and capable of free movement. I felt around the darkness for something and felt stone and dust below me. This isn't the Kiln of the First Flame then. That's what I last remember… The Fire Keeper!
I looked around frantically for her and saw nothing. I couldn't see my own hand before with this darkness surrounding me. I closed my eyes and sighed in relief once I felt her in the area. She's here with me still but still and almost unmoving. She must have rested like I have and has yet to wake up. I felt my legs in time, though I don't know how much time. This darkness reminds me of the same from the dark Firelink Shrine. The Shrine where time itself stopped without the light to fill it. Maybe this is the same instance. We are in a place devoid of light, devoid of fire, and so devoid of time. Perhaps we are even in another world entirely.
I felt my arms and then the warmth in my eyes. The fire is beginning to seethe within me. Once I felt I had the fire to I climbed up slowly to my feet. My back was against something, a wall of sort, which I used to climb up to my shaking feet. I pushed against the wall and stumbled forward. Questions filled my mind. Why am I awake? How can the fire within me resurface? What has happened to the world? Is the world encased by this very same darkness? Did we bring the time before the Age of Fire back with our actions? That can't be it from what I've witnessed from other worlds I've invaded as well as was called to. That Age is never to return same with the age of fire. The worlds of the Fire Keeper filled my head next. One day embers, remnants of the first flame, will fly through the darkness of the world. The fire has faded but light has not if what she told me is true. I need to make sure but first… Where am I?
I reached down to my belt and pulled my pyromancy flame off my belt right where I left it and slipped it in the center of my left hand. The core in the center remained black for a moment. I thought that maybe fire has truly left this world until fire came alive in my hand and danced in my palm. Yes, I have missed my fire just as much as it missed me. I rose my hand up and allowed light to push back the darkness around me. I looked down to the dark stone and the familiar scratched below and brushed my hand against them. I followed them to the center of the chamber and found it before me. The coiled sword right where I stabbed it in the fire pit to light the bonfire of Firelink Shrine. Strange, last I remember I was in Kiln of the First Flame so how I get here?
I leaned down to the bonfire and found the fire to be dead and let my head dropped a bit. I closed my eyes until I heard something. I heard a crackle before me and opened my eyes. The bonfire… it's responding to my presence it seems. This sort of reminds me of when I was in before Father Ariandel and the fire within his vessel. It responded to my presence as well just like this fire pit, but the small little ember within it wouldn't be enough to turn into a flame. And with the flame in my hands now I don't think I can make this work on this bonfire. I don't have the First Flame's fire with me like before and this fire in my hands is more akin to the sort I faced in the Ringed City. It's darker than before and the red and orange of the original flame is gone. Even the Chaos fire doesn't seem to flicker within my flame anymore.
I didn't dwell too much on this fire and thought on how to light the fire like I have before. I need something to enhance my body maybe. I might have a tool to help me do that though. I looked down to my pouch and reached inside and pulled it out. I held it up and smiled. An ember. One that still is burning and hanging on to her fire at this moment in my hands and it shows with the small illumination and smoldering coals within. I squeezed and cracked the ember as I've done once or twice when I felt the need to use my Lord of Cinder vitality. This is one of those times like when I faced the Nameless King and his Stormdrake or when I faced my senior Gael for the last time. The ember broke and the fire behind it spread beneath my armor. I felt warmth encase my entire body. I felt alive again.
I turned towards the coiled sword and grabbed the hilt and felt the embers beginning to grow but quickly began to die back down. I thought that maybe I can't do this with what I have now for a moment. Or maybe I need to do more. I pulled the Coiled Sword out of the pit until fire encased it. Then I stabbed it straight down and watched the fires beginning to grow, but this fire wasn't red or orange but black like the one in my hand. The dark flames though carried essence of the first flame, small little flickers, for I'm ash and came from such despite being human and undead as well. I watched as the fire spread and my body grew weak for a moment. I continued on despite the pain and how weak it made me feel and watched as the fire blasted out and pushed back the darkness. Then the fire spread along the ground and falls throughout the Firelink Shrine and lit up the braziers around me. Light was returning to the shrine though this light was made from fire but not the first. This was my fire and these are my embers. I felt weak and exhausted from relighting the fires once more but more importantly the darkness… it was pushed back. Time must be returning to the Firelink Shrine because I witnessed stone dropping from the ceiling and from midair. If time stopped then I suppose so did the force that allowed things to fall. I still a bit shocked I could do it. I guess I'm not the Heir to Fire for nothing.
"Ashen One," I heard behind me much like I did long ago when I lite the fire the first time. I stood up from my bonfire with a bone shard in hand. I kept two of them and dropped one into the fire. The darkened fire crackled and devoured the bone greedily but became more lively. I turned back and faced the Fire Keeper and couldn't help but smile. I could see some of the fire I used to bring light back to the shrine embracing her much like the ember did for me. But that fire faded away as it nothing had happened. I bowed the Fire Keeper and she returned the gesturer with a faint smile on her lips. She walked to the fire and I watched as she did so. She waved a hand over the dark flame and stared at it transfixed by its existence. I didn't expect this either but I'm happy we have some light in this… place.
The Firelink Shrine is so dim and quiet. I wonder what happened to my friends from before. I looked around and noticed that the chair the shrine maiden rested in to be empty with a single box left in her passing. I walked down towards the forge and found the anvil that Andre would use to be gone as well as him. I placed my hand on the many tools he must have left behind once he left the shrine. I looked down to my right to where my teachers rested to the same. Most of their effects are gone with only a scroll below between two rocks. I walked down to the scroll and took it in hand before opening it.
I couldn't understand the coding that well and the words are jumbled on top of this. I sighed and shook my head. Even in the afterlife or their undead life those two seek to test and train me. Like any good pupil I will break this code and learn its secrets.
I thought of Irina and walked down the hall past the grey crystals that lite up the way to find her gone. Of course she's not here. She became a Fire Keeper as well, so she wouldn't stay here. She moved to the tower but occasionally would find her way back her to speak to me. Though, with the First Flame gone I caused her to lose her new-found status as well. In the end I couldn't keep my promise to protect her and keep her full of purpose. I found a book and a chime on the small stand I built for her to sit on. The one we shared when she would read to me to help me with my… hollowfication. Maybe she's still alive trying to find her way. Or maybe she's gone and passed on much like that old pyromancer. I miss her stories more than anything and pat the spot she sat one. It was still warm and why not. Time stopped here after all.
I walked away from the stand and made my way to where that old thief Greirat would be and found it empty with nothing to show… no, I spotted a small ring on his mat and picked it up. I looked at the ring before slipping it on my finger. I felt a bit lighter and I felt like I could run for hours without stopping. I knew the old thief would find this ring. I wonder how long it took him. I wonder how many times my friends visited this tomb of mine before they just stopped and moved on.
I looked down the hall behind me and made my way down the hall to where the Yoel would rest and then his successor. The same that wished for me to become the Lord of Hollows. It took some time, but I got her to see a different path away from that of embracing the abyss through hollowfication. While I don't fear the darkness, I know that if left under the false rule of a lord the darkness would become shadow. Shadow would cover the land and devour all. I found nothing to show for our time together, but I expected this. I wouldn't want anything from her and she wouldn't want anything from me. Our memories will suffice more than anything.
I walked back out and happened upon a small star in the distance close to Andre's forge. I walked to it and saw a ring. I leaned over and picked it up before dropping down to a knee when I saw it. The ring that I gave Karla. This ring… it was meant to be one for engagement. She would always flirt with me, tell me to bring her things, and admittedly very beautiful with good birthing hips from what I saw. Then I remembered when I gave her two tomes then she demanded I bring her something better, so I brought her this ring. I believe she's still alive. I can feel it somewhere within me that she's still out there and maybe eager to burn me alive for going into the slumber I did. She's that stubborn and clingy. Must have been so long ago.
I rubbed the ring between my fingers before placing it on my hand as well. I felt my inner fire bolster and my pyromancy flame's light grow.
I climbed up to my feet and looked around the shrine. It's so empty and quiet now. It's really a shame.
"Ashen one," I heard from above and spotted the Fire Keeper looking down upon me. "Thou should no wither. They never forgot thee and cared like thy does'th them." Her word rang truth and brought forth a feeling of solemn acceptance. My companions and teachers are all gone, and we are alone in this shrine with light once more. Alone with time. I squat down in a small prayer and recited one of the many miracles I was taught for my fellow inhabitants of the shrine. I hope wherever they are or wherever they went they have found purpose, prosperity, and peace. I climbed back up to my feet and nodded up to the Fire Keeper to show that I'm finished.
"Ashen one, I wish to seeth the w'rld we has't created."
I thought on her wish and nodded. I too am curious of the world we created. A world where the First Flame no longer lives, but the fire of humanity burns hot. I'm curious to see what gods have persisted through the change of Era and which haven't. I wondered if dragons have returned as they began during my journey through abyssal magic and rot. We have to find a way out of this tomb of ours first though. It's been enclosed, probably for a very long time. It might even be like the one that I visited with the same instances. We might be buried alive and encased in rock beneath a mountain, stuck in time without light, and guarded by a mad dragon. It's all a possibility.
"I believe'th I might hath found our way." The fire keeper beckoned me, and I quickly climbed up the stairs and followed behind her. I picked up the box the shrine maiden left and opened it on the way. Inside was a leather or scale pack of sort that looked to be oddly filled with something just from how rounded it is. I picked it up and dropped the box next to the bonfire. Strangely it felt a bit too light as if the only weight came from the fabric and not what was inside. I unbuttoned the bag open and reached inside until my shoulder followed then pulled out my hand. A bottomless bag. They… they made this for me.
I can see the brand of Blacksmith Andre and his giant hammer on the single strap with a forged metal buckle that will never break.
Greirat as well left his mark just from the many multi-color dragon and drake scales he must have pilfered to make this possible. His Thrall hat is a design on top.
A dark residue resides within the stitching that I recognized as Yuria's handy work. This way if it tears, and in any way, time will reverse causing the pack to stitch itself back together. Londor's sorceries truly confound me.
I can see a small Fire of Protection stitched under the flap which faintly shined with my touch. Irina had to have blessed this to prevent misfortune to befall me.
My master Cornyx made this resistant towards fire. My ember as well as my flame has no effect on this bag and just to test it I touched a wall and watched it burn. My master entuned the fire though a gem to the scales I think to make my pyromancy more powerful as well once I put this one.
I know the sorcery of Orbeck anywhere. He's the only one I can think of that can make this pack bottomless and he even placed his seal on the upper portion for all to see just so they know who it was that made this possible. I will miss that man deeply despite his sharp tongue at times. Added a scroll loop as well which was the perfect placed for the scroll they left me.
Karla of course had to place her mark and her own blend of magic upon this as well. I could feel it the moment I laid it my hands; the cold warmth of the darkness that emanates from it. It's embroidered into the fabric in a spell that will return this to me if it's ever taken or lost. I can see the sigils now through the scales. This is her handy work. Even my ring responded to the pack in my hands.
Lastly, the shrine handmaiden was the one that put it all together. She was the lead creator of this and I can see it from the handiwork and how well everything stitched so well together. I reached within the back and remembered my helmet I left before I faced the Soul of Cinder to end it all. I felt something touch my fingers and pinched them together. I pulled out my helmet and slipped it on over my head smoothly. They even placed all my effects into this bag. I'm sure my box in the back is empty but I doubt it. Even if its not best I leave it as is.
This was one final gift from all of them before they left Firelink Shrine and before it became our tomb. They placed a piece of themselves into this and it showed. I smiled at this and looped the bag around my shoulder to rest on my back.
"Art thou ready Ashen One?" I nodded and followed after the Fire Keeper who waited for me to finish. We walked past the entrance that would lead us to the undead cemetery to see it caved in and sealed. I followed the Fire Keeper up to where the tower would be. The entrance was closed by rock on all sides, but I noticed a difference in the air quality here. After spending days in the Great Swamp I can tell the difference in the slightest change in air quality and it's richer here than before. I rose my hand up and allowed the fire to show over the walls. I could feel my fire flowing towards a wall and turned towards it.
"Ashen One, the fire thoust contains, what is it?" I looked down to the fire in my hand as it burned dark and resolute. The ember of my body is different as well now that I look at it. It isn't as bright or bold as before and I can feel it fading a bit. My ember of the First Flame doesn't seem to be holding on well with my new flame. I feel drained as well like never before on top of this. "Is thou well milord? Thou feel a bit bushed," she said next and I didn't have an answer to that.
I felt tired and the fire below came to mind. I felt like I was feeding it before with my soul or maybe my strength akin to what I heard about the First Flame. I took the souls of the Lords of Cinder, the Dark Soul of man, and even that of demons and gods alike. Those souls along with my own were meant to feed the First Flame but I refused instead. Maybe I lost a bit of my souls when I rekindled the Shrine bonfire with that Black Flame. I linked the Black Flame to the Firelink Shrine. I thought back to the first Ash of the Painted World of Ariandel, Sister Friede. How when I showed her flame like me she became encased in it. Then I remembered when Father Ariandel fell to my blade how the dark soul manifested as fire within her. Maybe it's the same instance for me. The fire faded that I'm supposed to host leading to only one left for me to call upon.
"And what is this fire? It's calm… and cold." The Fire Keeper walked up to the fire in my hands and placed her hands around it with her eyes closed I believe. She still wears her crown to hide her eyes away from me even though I know she can see perfectly fine despite how dull and grey they appear.
"The Black Flame of Humanity," The Fire Keeper whispered. Her tone made my shiver same with what she just said. The Black Flame that Sister Friede wielded against me. The same that could burn away the church with ease and burned me to cinders once or twice. Most of my deaths are just that and barely register in my mind but the two from that black flame have scarred me for a long time. It marked me because that fire appeared to be the power of an heir that overcame the Fire Flame. An Heir that turned her back to use the fire within over the one gods forced to persist. That fire has branded me out of all my foes and now its in my hands.
"Ashen one, thy body has burned away thy sovereignless souls." That's what I figured. I knew that I lost something from forcing fire and light into this shrine. A shrine that wasn't meant to hold this fire and yet I as the sole Heir to Fire forced it with a cost. It seems I've lost my souls. I feel drained but not weakened though. Maybe I just need more souls to take nourishment in. That's going to be more motivation to get out of here and see the world.
"Doesth thou feel thine soul?" The Fire Keeper placed her hand on my chest and I felt a warmth within. "It's cold and peaceful." As she said this the ember of the First Flame faded away with only a smoldering essence of fire shown on my arms. A partial Ember? Never thought that was possible along with lighting the bonfire with a different flame. My soul is cold and Peaceful. I can believe that and I do feel fulfilled. I miss my friends but I'm relieved the world persisted to live.
I rose my hand up to hers and gently pried it from my chest armor. The Ring on my chest has come alive once more but it's white instead of red like the darksign. Now that I think of it I wondered if I was still undead. I reached up and placed my hand on the area on the back of my back to the left of my spine for the sign and grit my teeth once I felt it. I'm still cursed with undeath it seems, but my dark sigils have long been healed. I smiled ironically though at the cost in souls the Fire Keeper forced me to pay to lift me of them. I believe she was chastening me for taking the easier road that time, and I surely learned the lesson on why not to be lazy like before. I won't hollow unless I fall to darkness, I hope.
I walked past the Fire keeper and placed my hand on the wall my fire drew me to. I brushed my hand against it before pushing it back and breaking the illusion that holds it. As the illusion broke I could see a large cavern before me with light shown from above. "Ah, light does'th exist still," the Fire Keeper worded with relief at this, and even I let out a breath of reprieve as well. The world isn't shrouded in darkness and light still exists to keep the world balanced.
But I've awoken for a reason.