Flynn

SL31 - 16 VGR - 14 ATT - 11 END - 21 VIT - 21 STR - 12 DEX - 9 INT - 9 FTH - 7 LCK

Resa

SL31 - 14 VGR - 14 ATT - 11 END - 12 VIT - 12 STR - 18 DEX - 8 INT - 20 FTH - 11 LCK

Flynn

We returned to Firelink Shrine...I had some errands to run. While I was absolutely excited to learn more pyromancies with Cornyx, Andre had my attention. I approached him with the ember I'd found, seeing his face light up at the mere sight of the flickering flame that danced within.

"Ah, Flynn...what have ye brought me? If my eyes don't deceive me, that's something I'll be wantin' ta get my hands on."

I held it out to him, displaying my find proudly. "We found it on the Road of Sacrifices...with the nature of titanite so different from what I remember, what will you be able to do with it?"

He smiled, gingerly taking the ember from my hands. "Ah, yer a bright one for remembrin' that. Ta be honest with ye, I don't know. However, it'll damn well be an improvement with what I've got now. Tell ye what...give me that sword, there, and whatever gems ye might have found while huntin' for the Lords. I'll do some testin'...see if maybe I can't get more ta bond with yer weapon."

It seemed like a more-than-reasonable arrangement...if something worked, it would almost certainly be an improvement over my current sword. I handed the weapon over, Andre already going to work with the ember, moving it to the back of his forge where he kept his fire, feeding it this new enhancement. However, I had a fire of my own that needed nurturing, and it wasn't something that Andre could help me with. I made my way down the stairs and towards Cornyx, pulling out the bundle of scrolls that I'd kept safely tucked away. I sat down in front of the potentially-blind man, laying out the scrolls. "As you asked, teacher. I found these...and would like to learn what is contained within."

Cornyx gave of a wry smile, holding up the sheaf of papers and quickly flipping through them. This made it clear...he could read, but I wasn't sure how. These weren't the braille tomes that Irina could interpret, they contained language just like any ordinary book. Still, through his headwrap, it was clear that he understood the text written. "These are pyromancies from my home in the Great Swamp...much more powerful pyromancies than what I could previously teach you. There are four here, of varied uses. Tell me what you would like to learn...and I will present unto you the pyromancy that fits that desire."

I didn't need to think...every pyromancy I'd ever learned served one purpose, and I saw no need to change that. And, after the fight with Heysel...I was still cautious. "I need to learn something that can burn my attackers alive. Is there anything within those pages that meet that description?"

Cornyx nodded. "Two. One is a classic, the Fire Orb. It is quite similar to the Fireball you already know, but stronger in almost every way with the drawback of consuming more of your inner reserves. The other is...well, a bit more nuanced in its execution. It is known as Bursting Fireball - you split the flame in a plethora of directions and launch the remnants forward, each following their own trajectory. It is difficult to learn, and even more difficult to master. Here...let me show you."

He held out his hand, his flame springing to life. Within moments a ball of fire flew from his hand, but only for a moment. After that it appeared to shatter, spreading into several dozen smaller fireballs, each one continuing forward. They dispersed into the water one-by-one, but that made the pyromancy no less impressive. I wanted it...it was like nothing I'd seen before.

"Let me give it a try, and see if I can't figure it out."

Cornyx smiled. "Please, go ahead. You are a most impressive student...I'm sure you can do well." He handed me the scroll, which I quickly began reading.

It was...well, he wasn't lying when he said it was more complicated. The pyromancy required more than simply calling on your inner reserves...it required me to contort and twist it part of the way through the casting, which was how the fireball split into so many pieces. I held my hand towards the water, giving it a try. The first attempt was unsuccessful - all I did was throw a fireball, with no modifications. The next several times weren't much better...I could have sworn I saw the fire waver after it left my hand, but never actually splitting into pieces. I kept trying, eventually draining my Ashen Estus flask, still with no progress.

I frowned, but my teacher put on a positive face. "Worry not...it is a complicated pyromancy. Would you like to try another?"

"Give me Fire Orb...I've heard of it before. I can't test it right now, but I'll bring the scroll with me on the road."

"Very well, Flynn. Take this with you...learn its secrets. And please, bring me more scrolls. I will teach you whatever you bring me, so long as you have the appetite to learn."

"Sure." I grabbed the scroll, stuffing it into my belt. I didn't care much about what I could learn...I was mad about what I couldn't. I'd trained for this, spent an entire previous life learning and practicing pyromancy, and yet I couldn't figure this one out...and from the complete lack of progress I made, I doubted I ever would.

Whatever...I was more than pyromancies. I had a hammer and a sword, both of which could eliminate something in moments. It irked me that I couldn't figure it out, but I wasn't going to dwell on it...or at least, I didn't plan to.

I moved back to Andre, finding him still hunched over the anvil, my sword nowhere to be seen. Normally, I'd watch...if for no reason other than interest. Right now, though, after my failure...I didn't even want to watch Andre's success at the forge. I turned about, finding Resa talking with the Shrine handmaid. It was a woman I'd never actually talked to, despite having passed by her a multitude of times. I approached her, taking a seat beside my sister.

"Greetings...you must be Flynn. Your sister has mentioned you a time or two, specific to what I can help you with. There is something that is a new arrival...something that might be of interest to you. Tell me what you think, and perhaps we can strike a deal."

She reached to her side, pulling something out of a seemingly-mundane canvas sack. However, the reality couldn't be further from the truth as she pulled out a very familiar piece of armor...it was what the two people we'd just fought wore. How it got here, in such a short amount of time...I didn't want to know. The armor couldn't have possibly fit inside the bag given its dimension, and yet the mouth of the sack stretched to accommodate what was within it, until she'd hefted out the entire suit of armor.

It wasn't exactly my thing...it looked quite rough, to be honest. The armor was rusted, the chain shirt tattered, and the fur neckpiece matted and worn. Worst of all, however, was the helmet. I'd seen it before and didn't like the look of it, and it was only worse now that it was up close. It looked like a metallic skull, the mouthpiece of the slab of steel that made up the helmet barred, and with similar eyeholes. It looked like it was a mobile prison...something one would wear as punishment.

And yet, despite all of my criticisms, I wanted it. The armor was massive and intimidating...perhaps it was a bit rougher than I would have previously wanted, but it still fit the job. Plus, the Lothric that was outside wasn't the Lordran I remembered. The world, the entire world, was dying. I didn't have the luxury of being picky over the look of my armor.

"I'm interested."

Resa was dumbfounded...rightfully so. "You can't be serious."

"I am. It's massive, and it's indestructible. That's what I'm looking for."

Resa shook her head, but the handmaid smiled. "Perfect...perfect. As you could imagine, an entire suit of armor of this quality is not a common item...I only have the one, in fact. The price is high, I'll let you know that right now. Hold out your hand...I will let you know if you possess enough within you to take this with you."

I did so...no going back now. The handmaid held my hand within hers, nodding. "You possess many souls, Flynn...but if you truly wish for this armor, you must be willing to part with the vast majority of them."

I paused...I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that. They were the source of my strength...but I was committed. This was the right decision...or at least I thought so at the moment. "Take them."

I felt power draining from me as the souls left my body and moved to the handmaid. More and more left me...but this was the right choice. I was sure of it. With these, I'd be invincible. "Why thank you, Flynn. Hope it is to your liking."

I quickly realized, however, that it wasn't. They were heavy...far heavier than the handmaid had made it look. There was no chance I'd be able to wear these and still be functional, at least not for a while. I drug the set to Andre, who turned his attention towards the rugged armor. "Think I can stash this with you? I, uh...I don't have anywhere else to put it, I guess."

He nodded. "Go ahead ye rascal, I'll keep it safe for ye. By the way, the coal ye gave me is doing what I expected...more gems are bonding to yer weapon. I left it with something I have a feeling ye might like...give 'er a few swings for me."

We traded equipment, Andre giving me back my sword while I moved my armor for safekeeping. Upon gripping the sword, it felt...heavier. However, looking at it, it didn't look as if anything significant had changed. It was the same length, same width, perhaps a little sharper...and yet, it felt significantly heavy. I gave it a few swings in the open air, more than satisfied with the weight. "I like it. What did you do?"

"One of yer gems did that. I figured ye'd like a bit heavier of a weapon. It suits ye. Went ahead and put some titanite into it as well...anything else ye need from me?"

I looked at my sister, the two of us shaking our heads. "This is perfect, Andre. Thank you."

"Ah, no need for thanks. I'm a smith...helping ye is what I do. Now, go take out some Lords with that thing, and I'll know that ye like what I've done 'ta it."

I smiled. "Will do, old friend. If I find anything else that might be of interest, I'll send it your way."

"Please do, Flynn. Always a pleasure with ye around."

I gave him a parting nod, turning back to face the center of the Shrine, and walking to the bonfire. "Any other business you need to attend to?"

My sister shook her head. "Nothing for now. Ready to go back?"

"Indeed. Let's brave the swamp."

The two of us took a seat by the Shrine bonfire, envisioning where we'd just been...the small, dimly lit room with the swamp just on the horizon. Within moments the air shifted, and we were there.

Resa

I dreaded entering the swamp...even from here the smell was horrific, and I could have sworn I saw things moving within the greenish-brown liquid that stretched out beyond my vision. The trees here even seemed to be...sick. They were short and fat, with numerous growths along their bark. Nothing about it made it a place I wanted to enter, and yet we had to...there was a Lord to find.

I followed Flynn out to the swamp. The putrid waters growing ever-worse the closer we got to them. Doubt flicked through my mind, but I pushed it away. As Flynn waded into the swamp, I saw him sink down until his feet were completely submerged, and his massive frame kept sinking further. Hurriedly he pushed forwards, another small island of land to our left looking like a promising way forward. "Keep moving...this stuff burns, and I have a feeling it'll burn worse the longer we stay here."

Before I entered, however, I saw a sign that caught my attention. It wasn't a sign in the traditional sense, one made of wood...but rather, a glowing orange script that hovered just off the ground. How it got there, and who put it there, I had no clue. I read the words aloud, hoping that Flynn might hear them from the next landmass over. "Extinguish three flames, and open the door to Wolf's Blood."

Flynn looked towards me. "What's that mean?"

"I'm guessing it's what we have to do...to get to the Lord, I'm assuming?" I shook my head. That was all the words said. Reading into them wouldn't do us much good.

Without further ado I stepped into the swamp, immediately regretting my decision. Flynn was right - the water, if I could even think of it as that, burned. I sunk down, about to my knees, but only for a brief moment as I began to rise back up. Soon, I had joined Flynn on the other side.

There wasn't much here of note...except for one thing, which had become infinitely more important after reading the note...a fire. It raged on, a few logs piled up at its base to keep it burning for at least a little while longer. "What do you think...should we put it out?"

Flynn nodded. "If what you're betting is true, yeah. However...how? I'm not flinging that stuff on the fire in hopes that it gets put out. No thank you."

"Well, this is a Lord of Cinder we're talking about. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy. If you won't...I will." I walked towards the water, scooping a handful out. I carried it for as little time as I could, revolted by how much it burned, throwing it into the fire. To my dismay, however, it burned brighter for a few seconds, the 'water' more a fuel than an extinguisher.

"Well...now I'm stumped."

"Let's come back to it. Maybe we'll find something that helps...or maybe we'll realize this isn't what it means. I mean, look around. There are tons of fires like this burning. Putting out a random three doesn't seem like anything special."

He made a good point. Even from this angle, nearly half a dozen fires burned on. "Fair point. After you, brother."

He pressed forward, moving from one island to the next. I quickly discovered one of my suspicions was true...the water was alive. Overgrown slugs squirmed through the inhospitable environment, occasionally spitting even more revolting liquid at us, while others simply tried to bite. However, they were weak...any of them stupid enough to get within striking range was swiftly eliminated. On our way through the swamp we passed by the remains of broken buildings, as well as several more fires. It began increasingly apparent that those weren't what we needed to put out...we'd passed by more than three of them already. However, that only furthered the mystery of what we did need to extinguish.

Eventually, we made it to the base of a mountain, with a winding and dilapidated staircase leading up. With nowhere else left to go we ascended it, slowing down part of the way up from the sound of movement beyond. We moved carefully after that, constantly peeking out around the corner to see if we could spot something. Soon, we did.

They were humanoid...barely. What exactly they were, I could barely recognize. They had bestial arms and legs with cloven hooves, razor-sharp claws. And backward-bent knees. However, their heads were the most revolting part. They had horns and a roughly goat-like face, but all that was masked by the numerous growths atop their scalp. It made it to the point that their face looked like nothing more than a nubbed blob with little other definition.

I wouldn't have been worried about these two alien-like beings...except they were armed. One carried a sword and shield, though the shield looked to be of rather poor construction. The other only held its claws...but given that the other was armed, it was clear this was an aggressive race. One howled an inhuman scream upon seeing us, drawing the attention of the other. Each lunged towards one of us, moving with surprising speed.

However...so did I. The unarmed one leaped at me but I dodged out of the way, spinning around with my scythe to cut through its side effortlessly. Before it had a chance to react I swung again, my body lurching to a halt and pivoting to twirl the other direction, sending my scythe slashing against the other side of its flesh. After a couple more slashes and dodges, I'd put it down.

Similarly, Flynn pummeled the other beast. Despite its larger stature Flynn bullied it around, slamming into it and slashing at its gangly appendages, the small shield woefully inadequate at protecting it. After one swipe at its legs it was on the floor, where he was quickly able to dispatch it. He started wiping off his blade, sheathing it. "Easy. What's next."

I pointed forward...it seemed we had a clue. On the ground was the same glowing letters as before, delivering the same message as what I'd seen last time. I grazed my eyes up, looking at where they were pointing, and finding an altar...with a flame. This one, unlike the roaring bonfires we'd passed, was contained within a small basin about the size of my head, but its presentation was clearly significant. Both of us walked towards it, standing around the small fire. Despite its size, it burned far warmer and brighter than it should have...something was special about this. The altar above it depicted a massive and overgrown tree, but with lifelike imagery within the trunk. What it stood for, I wasn't sure.

Flynn held his hands out to the basin, cupping them to entirely cut off the fire's air supply. The fire began dwindling, until it eventually was snuffed out entirely. "I don't know why...it felt right."

And right it was. As soon as the flame died a gust of wind roared through the swamp, whistling between the trees. This had to be what we were searching for...two more of these. "Let's keep going. I think we're on the right track."

We traveled beneath an archway, finding a descending staircase to our left that took us back to the swamp's base. The slog continued, the two of us moving to another island where we dispatched another of the odd beasts, where we could see yet another mountain in the distance. I rushed towards it, avoiding as much of the swamp as I could...it still burned.

I paused, solid land again. We'd spent a reasonable amount of time on the mountain, and yet my lower half still burned from the waters. "Flynn...are you feeling alright?"

He shook his head. "My legs are killing me. What's in this water?"

"I don't know. Let's be careful, and avoid as much of it as we can." I took a sip from my Estus flask, the pain fading away somewhat, but not dying entirely. Whatever was in the water was eating away at us, and I didn't want to give it a chance to finish the job.

I moved up the staircase in front of us, disturbed by what I could see beyond the rocky walls. To our left were four creatures...four absolutely massive creatures. They were several stories tall and looked more like skeletons than anything else, with a ribcage that was fully exposed to the swamp air. In their hands were trees...not branches, but entire trees. It didn't look like they'd noticed us...and I wanted to keep it that way.

We continued up the stairway, eventually reaching the top. Another one of the strange beasts leaped out from behind cover, catching my brother by surprise before he could react. Its sword plunged into his side...but that was all it managed to do. Before it could react I had my twinblades through its chest, ripping them in separate directions and plunging them back in. That was enough to slay it, the body falling to the ground with its sword still in Flynn's side. He pulled it out, tossing it to the side, and reached for his Estus flask.

"No, don't." I held up my talisman, offering him the chance at a miracle. "Whatever's in that water isn't stopping anytime soon. Replenishment should keep you going for a while...save your Estus flask for when you're in dire need of it."

"Sounds good. Thanks, sister."

I smiled. "That's what family's for, right?" I held out my hand, conferring the miracle to him. Slowly, his wound began to close up, and I knew that it would continue doing so. He pointed forwards. "Look. Another fire."

Indeed...and it was one that we cared about. This one was tucked further back in a corner, but was on a very similar altar...though the iconography was different. Instead of the living tree, this one depicted a pile of skulls, piled so high that it was tumbling down. Like Flynn, I put my hands over the opening of the basin, feeling the blistering heat dancing across my palms. Slowly, however, the fire began to dwindle once more, until it had been snuffed out.

Like before, a howling wind raced through the swamp. However, this one was more intense, with the sound louder and lasting longer. Had we not been sheltered by the walls around us, it might have been enough to blow me around. The repeated action meant that we were on the right track...something like that doesn't happen randomly two times in a row.

Flynn gripped my shoulder. "Let's find the third one. It's got to be somewhere here."

"I'll follow your lead."

This time, rather than going underneath the archway next to the fire, we went to the left. There, there was a stone bridge, three more of the bestial creatures guarding it at the end. However, beyond them was a bonfire, hidden within a tower. I wanted to get there...to be done with this.

Flynn barrelled forward, charging at all three of them in unison. Two bore spears while the other carried a spear and...something. I couldn't even guess what. However, my answer quickly came as it held up its off hand, shaking around what looked to be a sack of puss...and yet, it was some sort of magical implement. A cloud of purple mist sprayed forth from it, large enough to encompass Flynn as well as the other two creatures. My brother immediately broke into a coughing fit as the soured air filled his lungs...this was bad.

I got as close as I could, swinging my scythe forward and managing to slash one of the two spear-wielders. "I've got these two. You deal with the caster."

"I owe you one!" Flynn rushed forwards, slamming his mace into the caster with enough force to crush its leg...if it had hit. The beast dodged out of the way, plunging its dagger into my brother's side.

I wanted to help him, except I had two other problems of my own that kept me from doing so. I quickly switched to my twinblades, each one pointed at one of the two spear-holders moving towards me. My attention was split as I turned each blade various positions, lunging with one while deflecting a blow with the other, requiring more of my concentration than I would have liked. I couldn't even focus on Flynn, my mind too focused on juggling the two foes in front of me, each arm acting completely independent from the other in order to keep them at bay.

That ended abruptly, however, as a body was hurled into the beast on my left, a body that looked strikingly similar to it. Smiling, I swung my left sword at the one remaining beast, catching it off guard with a blindingly fast flurry of blows that quickly dispatched it. The other two had fall off the side of the bridge, splashing into the murky waters below.

"Are you hurt?"

Flynn shrugged. "I mean, sort of...but the bonfire's right there. Save your miracles."

Fair enough. We walked towards the bonfire, Flynn holding out his hand and letting it spring to life. While he did that I peered out the other side of the walkway, finding another walkway leading down. At the end of it, however, was a door...a very, very massive door. There were three sconces in front of it, two of which were lit. That must have been what we were opening. The door was cracked...not enough to open it, but it had clearly moved. Now, we knew what the goal was...we just needed to complete it by finding the third flame.

However, now wasn't the time for that. We'd been here for a while, and it was time to rest. The two of us took a seat by the bonfire, getting ourselves some much-needed relaxation and recovery.

"What do you think the Lords are like?" Flynn leaned against the wall, proffering quite the head-scratcher.

"I'm sure they're all different. Gwyn seemed strong and just, but we've run across many, many undead that aren't. Perhaps some of them don't know their task and will go willingly. Others, we might have to coerce. I don't know if we have to fight them, though...I don't think there's going to be any good that comes from killing a Lord."

"But what if we have to? Do you think that'll fail our quest. I'm willing to guess they all won't come willingly...perhaps none of them will. If they attack us, then we'll have to read the situation. Perhaps killing them is our only option...if it is, then I can only pray that it doesn't ruin our quest."

The conversation died down, as Flynn pulled out a scroll from his belt and began reading it. I connected the dots once he held out his hand, my brother's pyromancy flame dancing about. He was practicing once more, trying to learn something new. He threw a few balls of fire around, eventually satisfied with himself.

We sat and rested for just a bit longer, eventually opting to continue our trek. We still had to find the final fire, and the swamp was massive...I think we were lucky we'd found the other two as quickly as we did. With nowhere else to go but forward we descended the ramp, heading towards the sealed doors. There was no chance we were going to be able to force our way through them. Each was several stories tall and made of a singular slab of stone...the only way they'd be opening is when they wanted to.

At the base we made a right, wading through the ichor towards another small island with a stone gazebo encompassing it. At the base were more of the slugs...more than I'd ever seen in once place. Flynn moved past me, holding his bare arm out as an enormous blast of fire flew from his palm. This was larger than what he was previously practicing with...and it did its job wonderfully. Slugs burned to a crisp, those that remained turning to ashes as a second blast of fire came through, the rolling flames pouring out the openings in the gazebo. Within moments they were gone...and most probably didn't know what had even hit them.

In the center of the gazebo was something...else. A corpse, clutching a pile of something in his hands...something that I recognized. "Flynn are these the - "

"Things you cast into the fire? They look the same."

I quickly scooped up the bone shards, gently putting them in my belt. The more of these we cast into the fire, the stronger it became, and perhaps the longer we had until it was snuffed out completely. They were a precious commodity, and we were fortunate to have found two already.

Before we kept going, I noticed something...unusual. Breaking up the scenery in front of us was a massive tower, with a ladder leading all the way up. As I strained my eyes to look towards the sky I saw that it was, in fact, not a tower...but a support for a bridge. Why there was a ladder, I wasn't sure, but I wanted to find out.

Flynn looked to me, having noticed it as well. "Think the third one's up there? I doubt they'd put all three flames this close to each other."

I nodded. "Seems reasonable. After you."

Flynn moved towards it, yet another gout of fire eliminating the final few slugs barring our path. And then, we began the climb. The ladder extended as far as the eye could see, though all I could really see were the soles of Flynn's boots. We kept going, my arms growing tired by the time we finally made it to the top.

From here, the swamp was barely visible, the plentiful trees covering most of it. In a way...it felt peaceful In front of us, however, was a dark and empty room, though with yet another bonfire right in the center. As I entered, however, i quickly realized that we weren't alone here.

In the corner was a wolf, though it was far more massive than any I'd seen...no, that wasn't quite true. I'd seen a wolf of that size one before...in fact, I'd killed it.

"Sif." Flynn said it, but we were both thinking it. I couldn't remember the exact details of what Sif looked like, but I knew that she was a wolf, and a massive one at that. This one had similar features, and gave a similar impression - a plethora of swords were around her body, though none of them were piercing her fur. Similarly, I remembered seeing a massive grave by Sif, countess weapons sticking from the ground. If they weren't the same beast, they must certainly be related.

Flynn wandered over to the wolf, while I looked around the place. In the corner was a large stone platform, a circular depression in the center of it. I'd seen enough of these to know that it was a moving platform, though where it took us I didn't know. The ladder didn't take us all the way to the top of the bridge...perhaps this was where this led.

I noticed something in the corner, in one of the windows...a hand. I pointed it out to Flynn...he didn't seem to take note of it. "Resa...I think people worship her now."

"Who?"

"Sif." Flynn pointed towards a rod hanging off the side of the wall, numerous pendants hanging from it. Each bore the face of the wolf on it, and Flynn picked one up. "I think...I think they've formed a Covenant around her."

I raised my eyebrow. "And you're joining it? Just like that? Flynn, the Chaos Servants meant something to you...we both know that. Don't tell me you're putting that necklace on without finding out why the Covenant was formed, or its purpose."

"I know that we fought Sif during the age of Gwyn. Clearly, she survived...I don't know how. And she must have kept fighting through the ages, long after everyone else she knew was dead. Eventually, maybe, people stopped fighting her, and started fighting for her...and that seems like something worth believing in. Fighting long after anyone expects you should, trying to get others to your side."

"That's good...except for that one, little word. 'Maybe'. Flynn, you don't know...you probably won't ever know, unless you find someone else wearing that necklace. A Covenant should mean more than what you want it to mean."

My brother pointed a finger towards me. "And what about you? You're part of two now...a Sunlight Warrior and a Blue Sentinel. Why are you even lecturing me on Covenants when you can't even figure out which one you like?"

I gritted my teeth...he had a very strong point. "I...I don't think I'm a Sunlight Warrior. There's nobody else here following them...perhaps it's not even a Covenant any more. I'm simply carrying it with me in the hopes that I find another, and can ask them questions."

Flynn wrapped the necklace around his neck, but tucked it into his armor. "Well then, I'm carrying it with me…'in the hopes that I find another'."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I don't approve, but I won't tell you what Covenant you should join. I'm going to look at that hand...it's out of place."

I walked outside, wrapping around a staircase to find the hand sitting in a windowsill. To my surprise, in its palm were ashes...Umbral ashes, which the Shrine handmaid would have a use for. Pocketing them, I returned to Flynn, who had moved to the stone platform. "Going up?"

He nodded. "I'd rather look now and find the flame, rather than wait and have to come back."

The two of us boarded the platform, my stomach lurching as it quickly began to rise. When it came to a halt we were much higher up...taking a few steps and looking over the stone railing, I could barely even see the tops of the trees from here, let alone the swamp below. Before us was a staircase, one where I could hear heavy footsteps coming from above.

Very heavy footsteps, it turns out. As my head crested the top of the stairs I could see a familiar face...a demon, but one that we'd slain before. This was the one that barred our exit from the Asylum, the place where this all began. It was a massive gray fiend, several stories tall and wielding a similarly oversized mace.

First Sif, and now this? It seemed that the swamps were bringing all sorts of dead creatures to life.

Flynn didn't hesitate...he rushed it. "We killed it once. We'll kill it again!"

For once, I agreed with him. When we'd first fought it, we were weak and had barely learned how to fight. Now, even in our second lives, we'd grown stronger than we previously were. It wouldn't stand a chance...or so I thought. As Flynn rushed it the demon spun around, sendings its mace slamming into my brother with enough force to send him rolling across the ground. It seemed we weren't the only ones that had grown stronger since last we'd met...and now, we didn't have a chance to run away.

I did the only thing I knew to...fight. The demon was slow, something that was maintained from last time we fought, and I was easily able to circle around it, plunging my swords into its fatty flanks. I ripped and carved my way through, but I wasn't even confident I was making progress...the thing was massive, with extremely thick hide. Flynn recovered from his attack and drunk from his Estus flask, proceeding to fire off several blasts of fire at the demon, eliciting an angry howl. It slammed its mace down and spun it about, and I had to spring myself into the air in order to avoid being crushed by the gargantuan weapon.

I sprung back into the thick of the fight, continuing my dual slashes on the demon's thick flesh. Its haunch was starting to look pretty rough, but by the way it fought, I doubted the demon even carried. I continued rolling and weaving around the demon's attacks whereas Flynn simply took them - now that he knew what to expect, he knew to stand strong against its massive blows. His shield was taking a beating, being crushed repeatedly. However, my brother stood strong, lashing out with his sword whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Soon, the demon grew tired of simply swinging at us...it was clear we knew how to contend with this form of combat. Its tiny wings flew itself into the air, but only for a few, brief moments...it came hurtling back down to the ground quickly. The shockwave that erupted from its crash sent stone bricks flying all around us, giving the demon more than enough time to fight back. It caught me off guard, my mind already preoccupied with dodging the falling rocks that I didn't notice the hammer until it was in my face. I was sent tumbling across the ground, towards the edge. I tried to slow myself down but to no avail, and my heart dropped when I no longer felt ground beneath me.

I reached for my scythe quickly, my body now in freefall for naught but a moment. I hooked the curved blade over the precipice that I'd fallen from, the only thing keeping me from plummeting to my death being this shaft of wood and metal. I didn't have much room for error, either...I could feel the blade slipping, slowly losing its grip. I pulled myself upwards, doing a sort of hop to get further up on the shaft, though at the cost of seeing the blade slip a bit more. I repeated the action several more times, eventually just the tip being the only thing not over the edge. I repeated the action one final time, pulling myself upwards enough that my hand grasped onto the ledge...but my scythe began to fall.

Reacting quickly I snapped my feet together, faintly feeling the blade rattle between them. I didn't have the chance to look right now...I needed to get up. I pulled myself up with nothing but my hands, my feet desperately trying to hold onto this weapon. First, my hands, then elbows, shoulders, and waist. Soon, I'd pulled myself up, panting heavily from the exertion. I looked behind me...the scythe was still wedged between my feet. I grabbed it, ready to enter the fray.

Flynn was looking beat up, a situation I quickly remedied by casting Replenishment on him. As I moved back to the demon, which was now quite worse for wear, I drunk from my Estus flask, my battered bones restoring themselves. I caught the demon by surprise, leaping from its tail to propel myself upwards, slamming my scythe into the space between its wings. Gravity pulled me down, the stab I'd just made quickly turning into a vicious wound. It let out a howl...but too bad. I heard Flynn slam his mace into it, and then again before it could recover. I continued my assault, several more deep cuts coming from my scythe while we pressed our advantage.

We pressed the advantage enough...it fell to the ground. Or rather, I did, the body of the demon fading away from beneath me. What remained, however, was a soul. It hadn't left this last time we'd killed it, clear evidence that it had grown stronger. Perhaps, with the help of Ludleth, we'd find a use for it. I'm sure Flynn wouldn't turn down such a massive weapon like that mace, should that be one of the objects that could be transposed by the soul.

I looked around...there was still more here. I recognized where we were now once I saw a closed gate on the far side of the bridge, which looked strikingly familiar to the gate at the very beginning of the Settlement. This was part of the bridge that had collapsed earlier, keeping us from simply walking to the Settlement ourselves. Beyond the gate, I could see several hollows...though I doubted we'd find the third flame up here, we'd already gone this far. Might as well search the place in hopes of finding something.

Getting there, however, wasn't easy. There was no clear way across, but Flynn eventually found a serviceable path to the right, taking us across a few perilous jumps that my brother barely managed to make.

The other side, however, was more than worth the struggle. There were quite a few hollows...perhaps six or seven, but the real draw were the three lizards, each with a crystal growing from their back. However, standing out against the rather mundane scene was a dragon, dead and slowly fading away...it looked similar to what we'd seen at the Wall.

Flynn, reacting quickly, hurled a fireball and then two at the first one, quickly dispatching it before it could even run. The undead began to swarm...they required our attention now.

I swung my scythe in an arc, cleaving through two of them quickly. They were similar undead to what we'd seen at the Wall...likely because that was where they were from. However, it showed how much we'd grown in such a small amount of time, as I was able to cut through them much easier than before. Within moments four were dead, and two more followed in quick succession. For the final one, Flynn hurled a fireball at it, and another to take it out.

I looked back towards the two remaining lizards...they'd begun to scatter. I chased after one that was running towards the dragon, while Flynn chased after one headed towards the gate.

I quickly found out why these were such a desirable prize...and also that we'd been extremely lucky thus far. I watched as the lizard hid beneath the dragon, though still clearly within sight. It spun in circles, however, and I could have sworn that it was fading away. As I drew even closer I slid down, slashing where I though it to be...nothing. Thus far, with the three or four we'd taken down, none had managed to escape. And yet, clearly they could teleport, or perhaps turn invisible.

I looked back towards Flynn, hearing him suffer a similar fate as his curses rung out across the landscape. However, I noticed something else...a piece of paper on the ground, in a script that I could quickly decipher.

It was a miracle, but not from the Braille tomes that Irina could read. No, this was a miracle that I could recognize and understand...and it was one that I was intimately familiar with - Lightning spear.

I shook my head, picking up the scroll. It shouldn't be possible to be reading this right now, and yet I was. This...this was a gift, given to the Sunlight Warriors. Why was it simply sitting here, beneath the feet of a dragon that didn't even guard the altar.

I was furious...and yet, I had no reason to be. Though I knew nothing had changed, it felt as if the canvas emblem of the Sunlight Warriors was burning hot, alerting me of its presence. I wasn't a Sunlight Warrior...I'd just told Flynn that not but a short while ago. I shouldn't have cared about something I'd openly disowned, and it was now obvious that it wasn't so simple.

"What's that?" Flynn moved towards me, inquisitive.

"It's...a miracle. I'm still figuring it out." I didn't want him to know, not yet. He'd find out soon enough, I was certain of that. I knew how to fight with Lightning Spear. Despite the fact that I hadn't used it in so long, I still caught myself from time to time trying to hurl a spear at a faraway foe, only to realize I couldn't do it. In this inhospitable land where everything fought savagely, it would be foolish to ignore such a valuable asset.

And yet, I wanted to, solely because I'd made my choice. I was a Blue Sentinel...I'd pledged that to Horace. I couldn't back down now, before I felt like I'd really even done anything for them. I was torn...I had to pick one or the other. Sunlight Warrior or Blue Sentinel.

Or did I? Perhaps I could serve both. If what Anri and Horace had said are true, they served similar functions. Perhaps there was another way out of this, in which I didn't have to choose between Covenants. I didn't like that, however...it felt like I was living not one, but two lies at the same time. I had to choose one, but which...I didn't know.

I didn't know.