The Ashen One warped back to Firelink Shrine, ready to speak with his new companions Corynx and Irina. However, he wanted to check up on Greirat first. The fellow wasn't looking too great the last time they had spoken.

"Hey Greirat. You doing okay?" He asked the thief.

"Oh hello! I'm doing well. It's good to see you back, safe and sound." Greirat said. He definitely sounded more upbeat this time around.

"It's good to be back." The Ashen One agreed.

"You've come back at a good time too. There's something I've been thinking about that I'd like to run by you." Greirat informed him.

The Ashen One felt curious upon hearing this. "Okay. What is it?"

"You know I'm a petty thief. Well, perhaps I'll go on the prowl. Everyone's dead or hollowed away anyway, right, so... I might as well fetch some weapons or treasure for you. Well, what do you say?"

"You want to pillage the Undead Settlement?"

"That's right."

The offer had the Unkindled feeling conflicted. What Greirat was planning to do was quite dangerous. He'd definitely be putting his life on the line.

"I don't know Greirat. Even though most of the people there are hollows, the place is still a death trap."

"I understand the danger, and I appreciate your concern. But please let me do this." Greirat pleaded. "You did me a great favor and I wish to repay you for it."

Though he felt Greirat did not need to repay him, the Unkindled felt like he would be doing his friend a disservice by not allowing him to assist him in this way.

"Alright Greirat."

"Thank you. You will not be disappointed. Greirat the Thief was once a well-known name. Until I ended up rotting in a cell." The thief chuckled.

"Just promise to be careful out there."

"Likewise my friend."


He went over to Corynx, who found himself a nice spot to settle in.

"Good to see you made it back Corynx." The Unkindled greeted.

"Ahh, there you are, Unkindled One. I wish to express my gratitude. For trusting a lowly pyromancer, and allowing me to gaze upon this majestic flame. As promised, I will impart pyromancies to you. But first you will need a flame of your own." The old man said. Sure enough, he handed the Ashen One a pyromancy flame.

"Oh! Thank you Corynx."

"Careful you don't burn yourself with it." He joked.

"Just to let you know, I probably won't be using this too much. I don't really think I could anyway." The Unkindled admitted.

"That's quite alright. Though that begs the question, what do you wish to learn pyromancies for?"

"The way I see it, even if I can't use it myself I should still try to learn more about it. It may help me against enemy pyromancers." The Ashen One explained.

"I see. That's quite wise of you!" Corynx complimented. "Fortunately, I can teach you basic pyromancies. Most of which even a knight such as yourself can use. Unfortunately, as of right now these are the only pyromancies I can teach you. I forgot some of my pyromancy tomes."

"There's bound to be tomes scattered across Lothric. If I find some, I can give them to you."

"That would be wonderful. I may even get to see some tomes I'm unfamiliar with." Corynx smiled. "But enough of that, shall we begin our first lesson?"

Corynx and the Unkindled sat together as Corynx taught him basic pyromancies like Fireball, Flash Sweat, and Fire Surge.

"Interesting…" The Ashen One thought aloud after throwing a fireball.

"You're a quick-learner I must say." Corynx laughed.

"Where did pyromancy come from? Who created it?"

"Oh well that's quite a story."

"I'd like to hear it."

"Very well. pyromancy came from the lost city of Izalith." Corynx began.

"Izalith…I've heard of it."

"Yes, but more specifically, pyromancy came from the Witch of Izalith and her daughters."

"Wasn't Izalith destroyed?"

"Indeed, and by the very same fire that it created no less. Tangled by a witch's hand, the fire scorched Izalith."

"So how did the art of pyromancy survive? Seems like any record of it would have been wiped after that."

"That would have been the case, had one of the witches not survive. Her name was Quelana, the mother of pyromancy we call her. She was the one who taught pyromancy to us humans. She taught a select few students, most notably Master Salaman. Salaman was the one who went on to make advancements in pyromancy, as well as teaching it to more students. As for Quelana, she taught one last student, a wandering and nameless Undead. No one knows what became of that Undead. Whether he went on to do great things or hollowed like many Undead before him is anyone's guess." Corynx shrugged.

"He must've had something special about him for Quelana to take him as a student, and her last student at that. I'd like to think that he didn't just become another Hollow. He probably did something great, but we'll never hear about it." The Ashen One expressed his thoughts.

"That could very well be true. Quite a shame when you think about it. I'm sure many of people have done great things, make great sacrifices, only to be forgotten by history." Corynx said.

"What about the Great Swamp? It seems to have a lot of connections to pyromancy. Why is that?" The Ashen One went back to the subject.

"Oh yes. If you weren't aware, pyromancers such as myself have always been shunned by many cultures. Pyromancers weren't wanted, so they were driven to the Great Swamp."

"What's the problem people have with pyromancy?"

"Depends on who you ask. Many of the cultures fear it due to its primitive nature, and its destructive history. It's hard to blame them, even we pyromancers are taught to fear the flame. Sorcerers, however, tend to mock the art due to its simplicity."

The Ashen One chuckled. "Yeah that sounds like sorcerers. A lot of them are pretentious bastards."

Corynx laughed. "I take it you're not too fond of magic users."

"That would be an accurate statement."

"Ha ha! I see. Well regardless of how you feel about the art itself, sorceries, like pyromancies, would be very useful to learn. If you find anyone out there that is willing to teach them to you, do allow them to come here." The pyromancer suggested.

"You're probably right. Thank you Corynx." The Ashen One said and began to walk off.

"Do not be gone for long! What is a teacher without a pupil?" Corynx said and laughed to himself.


Finally, the Ashen One went over to Irina, who was not too far from Corynx. She must have not heard him approach, as she continued "looking" at the floor.

The Ashen One had a soft spot for the woman of Carim. She had sacrificed so much, even her very vision in an attempt to become a fire keeper. But now she was a blind woman and she seemed to think very little of herself. He wanted her to know that she wasn't worthless, that there was still a purpose for her.

"Irina." He called to her.

"Oh, Champion of Ash. Welcome back. I was not meant to be a Fire Keeper, but I am honoured to serve you beside the Bonfire. The gods are ever-merciful. My gratitude lies with them, and with you. I am yours now. Your wish is my command." She said with great thanks.

"Thank you." He replied, somewhat flattered that she referred to him with such reverence. "Can I ask you something?"

"Oh anything Champion!"

"There was a man I met outside of your cell…"

"Ah yes! Eygon."

"That's right. What's the thing between you and him?"

"Eygon is my guardian, a knight of Carim. He protected me as we traveled the land of Lothric." She explained.

"I see."

She giggled. "I'm assuming he wasn't very pleasant during your conversation."

"That's right. I guess that's how he is." The Ashen One shrugged.

"Yes. Eygon is not the kindest man in the world. He vocally expressed his displeasure for the task of protecting me. You might have done him a favor by bringing me here." Irina said. "But in truth, he is a good man. He was always there for me, to protect a failed fire keeper. Even if he doesn't like protecting me, he still devotes himself to the task."

"I can tell. Now I have to make sure to protect you. Cause if anything happens to you, he's coming for my head." The Ashen One said.

"Well none of us have to worry about that. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me." She said confidently. "Besides…I feel…safe here with you and the others. I don't have to worry about feeling alone anymore."

The Ashen One then sat down next to her. "I'm glad to hear that. You look much better than you did in that cell." He replied. "By the way, you said you were from Carim right? What did you do before you came to Lothric?"

"What I did back home? Oh, I was a simple nun, nothing special about that." Irina deprecated herself.

"That's not true. If you're a nun, that means you can teach me miracles, right? I haven't seen any sane person in Lothric that can do that besides you."

Irina smiled at the realization of her calling. "Yes! I can teach you miracles! That way I can be of service to you."

"Great!"

"Although to be honest, I only know a few. But if I had a divine tome, I could tell you many tales and more. Ahh, only I cannot see…Terribly sorry, but you'll have to find me a divine tome in braille." She frowned.

"Don't worry, I'll find you some tomes. For now, why don't you tell me the ones you do know?" The Unkindled suggested.

"Oh yes, of course! I've always enjoyed telling these tales. Oh, what fun we will have!" She giggled.

Irina told the Unkindled three tales. Replinishment, an old tale of the old Lloyd faith, whose cleric knights were unfaltering in battle. Caressing Tears, a tale of the many deaths surrounding the goddess Caitha, taught by her well-known follower Morne, the Archbishop's apostle. Finally, the tale of Homeward, a miracle that originally brought someone back to their homeland, but now the curse of the Undead has twisted its power, redirecting casters to bonfires instead.

"A tragic fate, don't you think?" Irina commented after finishing the tale. "To be Undead, no longer having a place to call home."

"Maybe so, but for us Undead or Unkindled, the bonfire is a home for us. Firelink Shrine especially for me." The Ashen One replied.

"What do you think it is about the bonfire that makes the Undead so fond of it?" She asked.

"I think it's because the bonfire accepts anyone. It doesn't matter who you are, what you are, where you're from, or what you believe in. The bonfire doesn't discriminate, and welcomes anyone with open arms." He mused.

"I see. That's a good point."

"Just think about the people here in Firelink. There's a Lord of Cinder who's missing his legs, a Fire Keeper, an old handmaiden that sells things that you wouldn't expect an old woman to have in her possession. A blacksmith, a crestfallen warrior, a thief, and a pyromancer."

Irina giggled a bit when he finished. "And even a failed fire keeper."

The Ashen One chuckled. "That's right. Even a failed fire keeper."

"I understand your point Champion of Ash, and I agree with you. My homeland would never allow me back, but this place welcomed me without question."

"And I'm glad to have you with us Irina." The Ashen One said. He stood up, realizing it was time to get back to his journey. "I'd love to chat some more, but I've got to go. I'll be back soon."

"Have a pleasant journey, Champion of Ash. I pray for your safety." She said as he left.

Returning to the center of Firelink, the Ashen One used the bonfire to warp back to the Crucifixion Woods.