Hey, everyone. There's not enough coffee in the world to wake me up today. So this isn't super long. Apologies~ For now, I'm off on a caffeine adventure. :]

Chapter Three

The energy of a Hollow never seemed to run out. They could chase for miles, attack without hesitation, and no obstacle was a challenge when violence overtook their consciousness. Like ants, they could carry unimaginable amounts of weight and their strength never wavered. He was not Hollow, however, so none of this applied to him.

"Go through the courtyard, she says. It'll be fine, she says," Chambers muttered under his breath as he pressed against a long pillar. Instinctively, his eyes shut as a giant boar smashed into the pillar from behind. The ground shook with the impact and he took advantage of the quakes to roll forward, taking refuge behind another pillar. But because nothing seemed to be going his way this morning, he stared into the glowing eyes of a Hollow soldier.

"Well, you're a sight,"

The Hollow screeched, the tendons in its neck stretching until they looked as if they would snap, and it thrust the spear it held towards Chambers' chest. The cleric quickly raised his small shield, rolling to the right and into the clearing. A low growl purred from the Hollow's throat as it raised its shield, studying him carefully. Chambers scoffed under his breath. That was just what he needed – a Hollow to patiently wait for the opportune moment to strike.

He quickly spun around, only to be knocked off his feet by a swipe of the massive boar's head. The moment he hit the ground, he shifted to his side, barely avoiding an incoming arrow. As the boar stepped backwards, scratching its hoof against the ground, the cleric's pale eyes locked onto a charging Hollow to his left. The soldier's eyes were blazing as it roared and it held its sword high above its head. Taking a quick breath, Chambers grasped his mace tightly, lifted himself into a crouch, and – fell promptly onto his face.

His breath was expelled from his lungs as his head bounced against the stone path. Without time to think, he rolled as much as he was able as a sword came swinging down past his face. For a second, he stared at his reflection in the silver of the blade. A man in panic stared back at him which was fitting because he certainly felt panicked. Stumbling to his feet, Chambers had half an instance to realize that the arrow previously shot towards him had twisted the cloth from his robe around its shaft, wedging both into the cracks of the stones. Not for the first time, the thought struck Chambers that clerics should take their wardrobe decisions into serious consideration.

As Chambers threw his shield up, the Hollow swung again, spittle flying from thin lips as it screeched. His shield smashed against the Hollow's wrist, knocking it away. Startled, the Hollow stumbled back a step and the cleric brought his mace down, embedding it in the soldier's chest. He pulled it free with a sickening slick of mangled, dead flesh and looked towards the arrow that pinned his robe down. He could only tug it once before the boar's forehead connected squarely with his side. The arrow broke, freeing him as his body went flying back towards the high platform two Hollow archers stood upon. Hard ground came up to meet Chambers and he felt blood pool at his lips as rivers of pain rippled through his body. He coughed and spat, ridding his mouth of the red liquid.

"Anytime now would be wonderful," Chambers yelled, shakily getting to his feet and stepping backwards as the archers focused on him from above. Under the safety of their platform, he stared at the boar. Tiny red eyes seemed to hone in on him and the boar grunted, nostrils flaring. Behind the boar, the Hollow soldier raised its shield and spear, as if waiting to see what would happen.

Steadying himself, Chambers took a deep breath, lifting his own shield and the rusted mace he carried. Sweat and blood dripped down the sides of his face and his body shook from the battering he had taken. From where he stood, the boar's tusks seemed sharper and the metal covering it thicker. It was all too easy to picture his body impaled upon one of those tusks, broken and limp. Swallowing hard, Chambers hunched forward and the boar followed suit. At least the Hollow's spear was out of range and the arrows raining from above had stopped.

Throwing its head from side to side, the boar rushed forward. Chambers braced himself, prepared to dodge and slash with all his strength. This was it. This was the moment. It was now or –

From the platform above, a mass fell and the gleam of a blade reflected off the sun. Chambers held his shield up to cover his eyes from the blinding light. The small figure landed on the boar with a thud and the shining blade disappeared far into its skull. A piercing squeal filled the air as the boar thrashed and its red eyes fluttered before it finally fell onto its side. The shadow-like figure leapt from the corpse and with a snap of the wrist, sent a small dagger flying towards the Hollow steadily approaching. The dagger struck precisely between the hollow's eyes and its head bent back as its body fell.

Chest heaving, Chambers lowered his mace and shield. His posture relaxed as his eyes narrowed. "Well, you took your time," he snapped.

The figure, a petite woman dressed in a thin shirt and trimmed pants, shrugged her shoulders apathetically.

"You told me this would be easy," Chambers continued, watching the woman walk towards the fallen Hollow. "Not that a giant pig would be waiting – which by the way, who knew those existed?"

The woman bent down, pulling her dagger free from the Hollow's skull and wiping the thick blood off on her thigh. Raising her eyebrows, she gestured with her larger blade around the empty courtyard.

Chambers sighed exasperatedly. "Yes, Myrill, I know that they're dead but that's not the point." With a roll of her eyes, the woman walked towards him and ran a hand through her mess of black hair. Chambers glared again. "Oh no, don't give me that. You're not the one who fought a giant pig."

The woman grunted softly as she pointed to the dead boar with her blade.

"I loosened it up for you!" Chambers exclaimed.

As Myrill's shoulders shook with a silent chuckle, she started towards a series of stairs but Chambers grabbed her by the shoulder. She stumbled slightly and her eyes narrowed to thin slits. Firmly, she pointed towards the stairs and made to move towards them but Chambers took her shoulder again. "You can't be serious. My organs are more than likely failing and you want to walk in there? Take on that?" His hand flew wildly up at the church that loomed beyond a closed gate. At her look, Chambers' voice rose. "You think this was a warm welcome? Fine, Myrill, let's go. But don't hate yourself when you're fighting over my corpse,"

Myrill shook her head and pushed Chambers' hold away. She took a few steps towards the stairs but came to a stop. Her head tilted back and her eyes closed before she finally looked back at Chambers. After a moment of contemplating him, her expression softened and she sighed.

"We'll come back." Chambers added. "With all my strength. They won't stand a chance."

The small thief approached the tall cleric and took his arm, wrapping it around her shoulders. Looking down at her, Chambers gave a laugh. "I can walk back – haven't lost my legs yet," If she heard him, she gave no sign and instead pulled him in the direction they had come from. "Thank you, Myrill," he said quietly.

Myrill gave him a gentle smile, readjusting her hold as they began to walk.

Chambers grinned suddenly. "Do you think Gabriel will give us some advice?" he asked and Myrill jerked him sharply. Wincing, Chambers chuckled. "True. Even I don't have faith in that,"

And with her support, the two made their way down the stone path in hopes of returning to the bonfire that made home in the mossy ruins of a shrine. Behind them, the church grew further away but locked away in its tower, the bell seemed to glisten in the sun.