Opening Notes: Huge thank you to Bylackbre who was a massive help with the plans for this tale down the road, and who also wrote the last portion of this installment.
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Chapter Four: Think Of Me
The Unkindled let out a sigh as he strolled through Firelink Shrine. Those Bones came in handy with getting home. He would rest up, then continue searching the Undead Settlement. The Fire Keeper still stood near the center, close to the bonfire. Hawkwood still sat down on a set of steps, looking down at the ground with pure dread. The Ashen One could hear the rhythmic clanging of Andre's hammer near the back lower level. He looked towards the five giant thrones, four of which were empty. The second one to the left was occupied by a small, almost insignificant man. Ludleth, he was called, and Lord of Cinder. His presence on his throne made the Champion of Ash's life easier. The Handmaid was, as ever, sitting in her chair. Everyone in their usual spot, except he didn't know where the newest resident was. Yoel the Pilgrim wasn't in his sights. He walked around, looking for the Londor native. It took a minute. But the Unkindled finally happened upon him down a pathway, doing nothing but waiting.
"Oh, our Champion of Ash, welcome home." His tone suggested he was rather happy as the undead knight closed the distance between them. "This pilgrim, with a debt in death, hardly deserves to behold this divine flame." Those words made the Unkindled let out an awkward laugh and shift his footing. "And I never would have, had you not taken me into your service. I thank you dearly for this... And assure you of my leal service."
"You're, uh, very welcome? It's my pleasure?" He did not know how to respond to that. He'd never had direct authority over someone. At least he didn't think he did.
Yoel continued. "As I have said, I was once a sorcerer. Alas, the magic of Londor is a far cry from the wonders of Vinheim." The Unkindled knight did not know what that was, but he did not question it. "But I can teach you what I know. Perhaps more importantly... I believe that I can help tease out your true strength."
"Oh?" The Ashen One raised an eyebrow at that claim. It was most tantilizing.
"We pilgrims of Londor are keenly aware... that those branded by the Darksign possess something quite special..."
"Hhhmmmm..." Darksign? That sounded macabre... but not nearly as much as his death. His follower must have read his decision on his face.
"Then shall we begin?" If his face was visible, chances are he would have been smiling. He offered a hand, and his master did the same. "Bearer of the Darksign, let your true strength shine..."
XXXXXX
"Well, that was an interesting morning," Liz claimed with a tired hint in her voice as the three of them, she and Patty in their Weapon form, flew back towards Death City on Beelzebub.
"Yeah! Fighting zombies and monsters!" Patty loudly agreed.
"Not to mention gaining an ally," Kid smiled as they closed in on the city. "That Unkindled can put up a fight, judging by the wake he left when we arrived, no matter how unbalanced it was.
Liz then took on a cynical inflection. "Let's just hope he doesn't go crazy the next time we're cornered."
Neither of her partners responded to that as they soared over the Academy.
"Hey look! Somebody's fighting!" Patty shouted.
Kid looked down towards the front steps of his father's Institute, and sure enough a brawl was going on. Even from their current altitude, they could tell one participant was Ornstein, although he wasn't using his spear. As they got closer to the ground, Lord Death's son came to recognize not only the Dragon Slayer's opponents, but the small audience that was watching from the fight he and his father had watched together a couple nights ago.
The towering knight was evidently having a match with BlackStar and Soul Evans, and winning, while Professor Stein (sitting in his rolling chair), Maka Albarn, and Tsubaki Nakatsukasa watched.
XXXXXX
The Unkindled One curled his fingers into a fist as he walked over the settlers he had vanquished. He twirled his sword around in his fingers before shouldering it. He did indeed feel stronger. Better than he was before. He glanced to the side and saw a knight, wearing a helm that looked like a spitting dragon and holding a massive mace that was bigger than he was. The stranger was sitting down, clearly content with leaving the Unkindled One be. So the Champion of Ash extended the courtesy to him and kept walking towards the church before him. Forcing the doors open, he saw a lift with a pressure pad.
"Well, this is easy," he grinned and kept walking.
Just as he was about halfway to the elevator, it rose up. He stopped mid-step and stared up toward the rising slap of wood and rope. He looked down to where it had been resting a moment ago, and less than a second later, a second pad occupied the space, and on it was a man wearing armor that made him think of onions. This one didn't notice him like the first, even though he was right in front of him. The Champion of Ash gritted his teeth.
"Hmm... Mmmmmm..." He was lost in thought. The Unkindled One's irritation vanished instantly. "Hmm... Mmm..."
"Hey? Excuse me, hello?" The Irithyll native waved his free hand, thus catching the other's attention.
"Oh! Pardon me, I was absorbed in thought."
Really? I didn't notice. The Ashen One sarcastically thought.
"I am Siegward of Catarina. To be honest, I'm in a bit of a pickle. Have you ever walked near a white birch, only to be struck by a great arrow?"
The Champion nodded. He did most certainly get struck by arrows the size of javelins.
Siegward continued. "Well, if I'm not mistaken, they come from this tower. Whoever it is, I'm sure I can talk some sense into them."
"That makes sense to me."
"But I have to find a way up, and that's just the trouble. This lift only goes down, you see, and... Well, that doesn't get me anywhere... Hmm... Mmm..."
"That is indeed a conundrum." He wasn't being facetious or sarcastic. It was a genuine puzzle.
Siegward began to talk to himself rather than his present company. "This lift only goes down, but you know... With a little warming up, eventually... No, no... I've got to use my head. And think. Hmm... Mmm..."
The Unkindled thought for a second when something dawned on him. "Wait, only goes down? But... there was a lift right there when I got here, and it went up..."
XXXXXX
For the three watching the fight taking place just outside the Academy, each of them was feeling something different.
The combatants were focused on their brawl. Soul changed his right arm into a scythe blade and charged at the armored man, who had wedged his spear into the ground and was currently using just his hands to fight.
"Oh please," he said with a hint of boredom as he leaned back to dodge Soul's attack, and without missing a beat, swung his arm forward, delivering a solid blow to the Weapon's gut, sending him back with the wind knocked out of him. "Before I left, students your age could at least put up a fight."
"I'll do more than that!" BlackStar prepared a dose of his Soul Wavelength as he too charged forward. "I'll kill you!" The gap was closed. "BlackStar Big Wave!"
The Slayer didn't even try to dodge. The attack met its target, and neither of them moved as the dust settled.
Ornstein chuckled and grabbed the bewildered assassin by the head and effortlessly lifted him into the air. "Bigger things than you have tried to snuff out my light. I've walked this earth since before your ancestors discovered the convenience of the wheel."
As the demigod knight squeezed BlackStar's skull, the ones observing them conversed.
"I hope he doesn't hurt BlackStar too badly!" Tsubaki said with her hand on her heart.
"Don't worry," Stein calmly replied with a smile. "Ornstein knows his own strength. He's had a long time to perfect his strategy."
Maka nodded. "Those two morons don't stand much of a chance, do they? He's not even using his weapon."
Stein looked sideways at her. "Maka. I have a special assignment for you."
She gave him a shocked and confused expression.
"Now now, no need to panic, it is just a simple question. Tell me. What does Ornstein's Soul look like?"
"Oh, uh, okay." The daughter of Lord Death's personal weapon turned her attention to the Dragon Slayer, who tossed BlackStar like a discus, making him collide with Soul. She closed her eyes, focused, and opened them to properly observe his essence.
"His Soul... it's gigantic!" The translucent gold orb around his body could surround a building. Spikes like the ones on his armor outlined it. "And it's ancient..."
The Dragon Slayer didn't notice the student intently staring at his soul as he grabbed the handle of his spear.
"I've had my fill," he said, tightening his grip, making sparks fly off the tip of the blade. "Better things are to be done." He crouched down, balancing himself on his toes and empty hand.
Stein's grin widened. He knew that pose all too well.
BlackStar and Soul gathered themselves just in time to see their foe seemingly glide across the ground towards them, only to stop when the tip of his weapon prodded the amateur assassin's chest, not even breaking the skin.
"Ha! You missed!"
"On the contrary..." Ornstein willed his Faith to come forth, and sent out a massive bolt of lightning, right into BlackStar.
Tsubaki could not help but flinch. It reminded her of what Stein had done to her partner when they had first met. She covered her mouth as BlackStar screeched and collapsed.
With one down, Ornstein leaned forward and swung his weapon to the side, hooking the white-haired student on the side grips near the blade. Without ceasing momentum, the Slayer swung him up, over, and headfirst into the ground. Soul let out a moan, barely staying awake as Ornstein stepped over him and raised a foot. More electricity sparked off his boot, and he stomped on Soul, sending shockwaves into him.
"Well, that was fun I suppose," the Slayer shrugged and walked towards his old cohort as his two opponents twitched on the ground. "Good to see you again, Franken. So, both of us have returned, and at the same time."
"That's too big to be a mere coincidence," Stein stood up and shook hands with the knight.
"Certainly not. It is time."
"Time for what?" Tsubaki asked.
Stein turned to her and Maka, who was no longer gazing at Ornstein's Soul. "Perhaps formal introductions are in order. Maka, Tsubaki, this is Sir Ornstein. He used to teach here before he left."
"Pleasure to meet you," the towering man bowed to them.
"What did you teach, exactly?" Maka inquired.
"Combat, and if the student is willing, Miracles. And judging by the current batch..." He looked over his shoulder to the heaps that were BlackStar and Soul. "... Things have gone soft. Peace does that, I suppose."
Stein shrugged at the theory. "So did you just stop by to pummel the students?"
"Not at all. The Fire is fading. Chaos will soon root itself. So I have returned to resume my old post."
"So wait..." Maka tried to process the part she understood. "You're going to be teaching us too?" This was getting to be too much for her. Stein came off of a maniac, and now this giant was going to be beating them into the ground on a regular basis?
"Aye. Which means a lot of speech patterns are going to get repetitive."
That random bit of information completely baffled the Scythe Meister. However Tsubaki let out a giggle. "I get it. Ornstein."
The Dragon Slayer nodded. "Nice to see humor is still alive and well."
XXXXXX
Rest was a pleasure Anri had seldom enjoyed since she and Horace had taken up their journey. So this moment of relaxation was one she would take with the utmost appreciation.
Currently, she sat on a rock while her unspeaking companion stood with his arms crossed, scanning the horizon, making sure the Corvians back on the Road of Sacrifices did not follow them into the destroyed fortress the two knights had stopped in.
Suddenly, screeching filled the air. Something had riled up the natives, it seemed. Up the stone steps towards the start of the Road, clanging of steal and screaming continued, getting closer to them. Horace reached for his weapon, but stopped when he saw what exactly was coming towards them. It was a knight, in oddly familar looking armor, letting out a sound that was either shouting or sobbing and falling down the stairs like a puppet with its strings cut. Every time his head collided with the ground, he let out a groan or yelp.
Finally, he came to a stop right in front of the spot Horace and Anri had lit a fire a few minutes ago. His face was in the ground and legs were in the air. He let out a muffled groan as his body went flat on the earth. He pushed himself up and dusted himself off, not even noticing them for a moment.
The Ashen One wiped the earth off himself, grumbling under his breath. "... don't even antagonize them and what do they do?" His musings were silence by a friendly female voice.
"Oh hello. How do you do?"
He stopped with the metal on metal brushing and finally took into account that he wasn't alone. Not by a long shot. That voice... it reminded him of a warm, safe place. Turning his head, he saw two knights looking right back at him. "Oh, thank goodness," he said with relief as he fully turned to them. "Finally, people that don't want to kill me." He gave them a bow.
"I am Anri of Astora. Unkindled, like you."
"It is a genuine pleasure and privilege to meet you." He smiled warmly behind his helmet, not really concerned with just how she knew he was Unkindled. She was Ash, just like him. Somewhere deep within, he felt a sense of relief, of no longer being so alone.
"This is Horace. A friend and travelling companion."
"Pleased to meet you as well," the Ashen One said to the other knight, who let out a gagged breath in response. The Unkindled One tilted his head. "Uh... huh."
"Are you too in search of the Lords of Cinder?" Anri asked, making him refocus on her.
"Ah yes. That is my duty, apparently."
"We are well along the road of sacrifices. Below us is the Crucifixion Woods. Beyond the flooded woods lies Farron Keep, home of the Undead Legion."
"My my my. We all certainly have quite a way to go." He shifted himself. This woman sent a coolness down his spine. A pleasant, soothing sensation, he had to admit.
Anri nodded and continued. "Further yet is the Cathedral of the Deep. We seek the cathedral, home of the grim Aldrich. We may go our separate ways now, but we are both seekers of lords. The next time we cross paths, one may find the other in a time of need. May the flames guide your way."
"May they guide you as well. And you too, Horace."
XXXXXX Three Days Later XXXXXX
Italy. Maka and Soul, out for an extracurricular lesson, finished the task given to them by their superiors.
"Can I ask you something?" Maka watched as her partner swallowed their target, Sonson J's soul. "Do souls taste good? You seem to really like them."
"Yeah they're delicious." He grinned. "They don't really have a flavor, but the texture, the feeling of them going down is heavenly." He let out a satisfied breath and turned on his heels. "Anyway, we're done here so let's back back. I'll go get the bike."
"Wait a second."
The Weapon looked back at his partner, who was staring at a church not to far away. "That building..."
"Didn't you lecture me earlier on how we aren't here to sightsee?"
"It's not that. I sense something. But there's so much noise." She focused and concentrated. "I'm sensing the souls of a Meister and a Weapon, with a horde of humans around them. I think it's those men who tried to pick a fight with us earlier."
"Those jerks? Who cares what happens to them?" He turned to leave but Maka's words stopped him.
"I don't like them any more than you do, Soul, but they're still human. It's not like their souls have become Kishin eggs."
"Ah just leave them be. It's Saturday night after all. Maybe they just got a little fever going."
She looked at him, unamused. "This isn't the time to make jokes or shirk responsibility! If something bad happens because we ignore it..."
"Okay, okay. I'll go get the bike."
As they rode towards the church, the roar of the engine wasn't quite able to drown out the Bells atop their destination. Just as the reached the place of worship, the Bells stopped as soon as they came to a halt.
Maka looked to the doors, attempting to sense the inhabitants.
"What? No, that's impossible!" She got off the bike and ran to the building.
"Maka, what is it?" Soul too got off the motorcycle and stepped up behind her.
"All of them... all the human souls... just gone."
She reached for the door, and stopped. A foreboding feeling swooped over her. Some sort of warning to just walk away... but she couldn't! As a Meister for the DWMA, it was her duty to uncover what had happened to all those souls. She forced the door open.
On the far side of the church was thick black fog, and standing in front of it was... someone. They had pink hair, wore black church garbs, and it was difficult to determine their gender, even after hearing their voice.
"The doors... they only open inward."
An authorative sounding voice boomed throughout the cathedral. "Yes, inward. You have completed your task, Crona, of collecting those souls, but you still lack the strength for what your mother plans for you."
"Maka be on guard, I have a bad feeling about this," Soul warned as the outline of a massive figure started to appear in the fog.
"Soon you will be strong enough to where these pathetic children will serve no threat to you." The foggy figure's words reverberated throughout the building as it got closer to the edge of the fog. "She has decided to grant you mercy child, and asked me to repay a favor by retreiving you after your original task was complete."
"But I don't know how to deal with her mercy," Crona complained as the fifth occupant of the room finally exited the fog and the DWMA students finally got to see the appearance behind the echoing voice.
The figure was definitely at least three times the height of Maka and was wearing what appeared to be some sort of ceremonial robes with some peculiar looking jewelry. The face of the man was hidden behind a mask with a design similar to roots that extened until it reached a golden crown. The most distinguishing thing about the individual was the bracelet wearing hands that each held a greatsword, one aflame and the other emitting what Maka thought was purple mist.
"Your coping mechanism that you use for your mother's escapades is none of my concern." The dual greatsword wielder stated as he planted the smaller of the blades into the ground. "I have fulfilled my bargain and shall get you out of harm's way before such a valuable pawn ends up being broken." As soon as he said that last word, the giant lifted Crona with his free hand before throwing him through the fog with little to no effort. As soon as the pinkette was in the fog, it disapated for the time being. His task complete, he freed his sword from the floor
Maka was watching the massive swordsman, trying to read him but the moment she tried gazing into his soul she just froze.
"What's wrong Maka? You can't just lock up now." Soul warned as he tried to snap Maka out of her confusion.
"His soul. It's... gigantic," the shocked meister said as their possible attacker turned towards the students. If what she saw existed on the physical plain, his soul would have pressed against every wall of the Cathedral.
"I don't think that matters right now," Soul replied as the figure took a step towards them, readying his massive blades.
"It has been many years since I killed a disciple of Death. It was quite a pleasuring experience. Now allow me to teach you why I, Pontiff Sulyvahn, was once considered among the most dangerous of threats to your Lord Death. Today my judgement will be passed onto these foolish students of Death," the sorcerer from Ariandel proclaimed with finality as he slowly yet menacingly walked towards the Meister and Weapon.