-Blighttown-

Seiko stepped off the elevator before the wheel flipped the wooden platform she'd been on, quickly locating a ladder marked by a torch. She was met by one of the firebugs atop one of the many ladders she had to climb, but rather than try to match it with fire, she fell back on her strength, bringing her hands together and hammering down on its head before it could attack. It splattered its innards over the wooden platform, popping like a melon. Seiko reached the top of another ladder when she got hit with a blowdart. Almost instantly, Seiko felt dizzy and sick to her stomach. An Undead up ahead, away from the next ladder, held a blowgun and was watching her fearlessly. Seiko straightened, took a wide stance, and hurled a fireball at her attacker. The Undead panicked, turned to run, and was struck in the back, disappearing in a flash of fire. A second later its charred corpse hit the wood platform, almost at the same time as Seiko's knees. She wanted to puke, her vision was blurring, and before she knew it, she was face-down on the wood, her vision going dark.

-Undead Parish-

"Back again, eh?" said the burly blacksmith, sitting at his anvil. Tetsuro was coming down the stairs with several pieces of heavy armor in his hands. His humanity restored, he had light skin, dark, wavy hair hidden by his knight helmet, and black irides.

"I am, indeed. There was a large warrior inside the church. I'm wondering if I could trade his armor with you for some more weapons."

"More? Ya've got a sword, axe, spear, and a greatsword. I've got nothing else that would interest you."

"How about some Titanite, then?"

"Aye, I've still got that. Which of your weapons do you want worked on?"

"I haven't decided yet, but I'll take the Titanite while I can get it."

"This armor's goin' to be worth a fair bit of it. How about a smithbox as well?"

"Smithbox?"

"It can't modify your weapons, but it's got what you need to embed Titanite in 'em yerself."

"Sure, why not? Having that and a repair box means I won't have to bother you as much down the road."

"S'no bother at all, you know. I enjoy my work, else I wouldn't be here doin' it."

"I'll be back with the rest, then I've got some more exploring to do."

Tetsuro took several trips from the Parish courtyard, taking the empty armor back to Andre, the blacksmith. It was far too large to fit him, and if Andre would accept it and trade for things that are useful, that was for the best. Once he'd made his trade and stored all the extras in his box, the first thing he did was head down the elevator to see where it went. To his delight, it brought him right back to Firelink, reminding him that the man he'd first spoken to had mentioned an elevator. He sat at the bonfire, choosing to ignore the very same man who had given him the information he needed, and rested. After a while, he withdrew his Bottomless Box, opening it and going over his belongings. He'd practiced with the many weapons he'd found, but it was impossible to say he didn't have preferences. His broadsword was still by his side, infused with Titanite thanks to Andre, but all his other weapons were still in their natural state. As he rummaged through his box, he heard labored breathing and uneven steps coming up the stairs nearby. A figure draped in black robes stumbled to the top of the stairs, a hand on its stomach. The figure turned to face Tetsuro, himself paused reaching into his box. The face of a Hollow peered back at him, and the figure shuffled over to him.

"T… Tetsuro?" it choked out, in a familiar voice.

"It's you!" he said, remembering the Undead woman from the Asylum. "What's wrong?"

"Poison. I've come up from Blighttown."

"Oh! Come, sit then!" He held a hand, gesturing to the bonfire. She shuffled over, feeling better right away.

"You'll be cured in a few minutes. You said you came from Blighttown, though, how?"

Seiko showed him the key in her hand.

"You've unlocked the door?! Excellent!"

"There are ogres in the way… And Undead spitting poison darts. It would be best to find another way, I think."

"I'd like to try before giving up, but I will keep that in mind. Have you remembered anything about yourself?"

Seiko shook her head. "But I have a name. Seiko."

"Is it a name you remember?"

"Quelaana named me."

"Who?"

"She's a Pyromancer, a Daughter of Chaos. She found me in Blighttown and helped me."

"I see. Well, how about I help you as well, then? I take it you've learned some Pyromancy from her?"

Seiko nodded.

"Then you'd be of great help to me. Of course, I won't ask for something from you without making an offer of my own. I have some spare armor I've stripped from Hollows, and many weapons. You're free to take what you need, but only if you'll follow me. I want to know the truth about this place. To learn it, though, I must ring both Bells of Awakening. I'm very close to the first, as I've heard from Jinta."

"Jinta?"

"He's the Undead who went ahead of us, the warrior. He's been able to make swifter progress than I, but he's offered his hand in battle as well as information."

"I'll help. I need to get stronger as well."

"Do you also want to know the truth about Lordran?"

"I want to know about myself. Quelaana said the only person who can help me is a powerful mage. She said the only one she knows the location of is in New Londo, but it's haunted by cursed spirits. I came to Firelink to recover from the poison in Blighttown and seek strength."

"Then I can certainly help you. Come, take what you need."

Tetsuro motioned to his Bottomless Box. Seiko bent down and reached in, grabbing at random, unsure of what to do. Her grasp found nothing as a result.

"Ahh, I'm sorry. You'll need an idea of what to take before you can take anything. For now, I suppose, I'll hand you a few things."

Tetsuro reached in and removed pieces of worn and aged armor, broken in places. He also pulled out one of the longswords he'd claimed from his foes.

"It's the only spare armor I have, and these are the best examples of their armor I've come across. A basic blade will do you well, too. Unless you'd prefer something blunt?"

Seiko fit the armor over her robes, since it was made to fit men larger than her to begin with. Tetsuro tightened the straps on the armor to help it stay in place. Seiko took up the sword and prepared to swing it. The instant she did it flew from her grasp and embedded itself in a stone brick nearby. Tetsuro looked from her back to the sword.

"How… Did you do that?"

"I expected it to be heavier… Sorry."

Tetsuro walked over to the sword and tried to pull it out. His first attempt failed, but he tightened his grip and yanked harder and the sword pulled free.

"Try holding tighter this time," he said, handing the sword to her and standing aside in case she sent the blade flying again.

Seiko gripped the hilt with all her might and it collapsed in her hand, but she swung without letting go.

"It doesn't feel right," she said, presenting the sword to Tetsuro. His eyes fixed on the imprint of her hand on the hilt as he took it back, nodding.

"I have my Pyromancy. It will be enough."

"Where do you get such strength? I remember now that you lifted that demon's flab off of me in the Asylum."

"Your guess is as good as mine."

Tetsuro closed his Bottomless Box, bending down to pick it up. He approached the bonfire and, as he knelt to set it down directly next to the bonfire, the box vanished into the flames. Seiko looked awed.

"Ahh, well, I don't much understand it either. There's a great deal of magic at work in Lordran, as I'm sure you've noticed. Which reminds me."

Tetsuro held out an open hand, palm up. From within him, a black sprite welled up like a candle's flame, softly glowing white. Humanity, sought after by all Undead. Seiko had traded her only Humanity to the small crow at the Asylum before coming to Lordran.

"I only have a few to spare, but it would be best if you were human, wouldn't it? Take it."

Seiko reached out and the Humanity shifted to her hand almost too quickly to see. She held it out to the bonfire, the Humanity leapt in, and the flames reached back. They swallowed her, almost transparent, and she took an impossibly deep breath of the flame. As she breathed in, teeth grew in her mouth, eyes grew in her sockets, new flesh covered her body, her hair regrew, and her Darksign glowed, the light escaping through her hood and the bottom of her robes. The flames receded, leaving Seiko fully human. Instead of wisps of hair, she now had long black hair, very slightly wavy, trapped under her hood. She reached up to smooth it out of her face, to keep it inside her robes, revealing pale skin, a plain face with sharp features and eyes scrunched against the scratching hair. When she opened them, her eyes were a piercing sky blue, and certainly glowed, if only faintly.

"I'm not sure what I expected, but I certainly didn't expect you to look like that. You're scrawny for having so much raw strength."

Seiko turned her hands over, patting herself down in the gaps of her worn armor. She took a deep breath, exhaling all at once.

"Much better," she said. "Lead the way, then."

-Undead Parish-

Tetsuro led her to the elevator and they both stepped in.

"Once we reach the top, we need to reach the roof of the church. The first Bell is up there, but the last thing I heard from Jinta is that there are two Gargoyles guarding it. If we can beat them, we should use their souls to ask the blacksmith for some proper armor for you. After that, we can look into a way into Blighttown."

"You said..."

"I'm going to choose to trust you this time. You were in bad shape when you came to Firelink, and if you have Pyromancy and that amazing strength, it must not have been easy."

Seiko chose not to bring up that she only succeeded in passing the ogres by dodging them entirely.

"Besides, I have some idea of a path we can try. There are streets below the Undead Burg we may be able to get down to. Speaking of, I'm reminded of my key ring. Care to lend me that key? No sense carrying it everywhere. I'll add it to my own."

Tetsuro was putting the key ring back in its pouch when the elevator arrived, the cage door blocking it off moving aside on squeaking hinges.

"To the top we go," said Tetsuro, drawing his sword and shield. Seiko followed him as he went up a set of stairs nearby. They were almost immediately blocked by a Hollowed Balder Knight. It slashed at Tetsuro and he blocked, swinging at it. It dodged back, then quickly descended the stairs, bashing with its shield. Tetsuro's shield was smacked aside and he was open, but Seiko grabbed him by the sides and pulled him back. She moved aside as Tetsuro lost his footing because of it and crashed down the stairs, but the Balder Knight had missed. Instead, it slashed at Seiko. She brought up an arm, newly outfitted with the battered Hollow armor, and absorbed the blow, stepping down a stair from the force. The gauntlet had a new rent in it, but it had protected her arm. With her other hand, Seiko unleashed a Fire Surge, the flames pure blue. The Balder Knight flailed, catching fire, and the metal armor it wore scalded its skin as it heated up. The Hollowed knight fell, crashing to the stairs.

Tetsuro drank from his Estus Flask, having sprained his neck and dislocated his knee from the fall. His wounds faded and he rushed up the stairs.

"Are you insane?! I was fine! You almost killed me!"

Seiko shrank slightly, culpable.

"Next time, let me handle myself. We have an Estus Flask, and I'm sure we can find another on one of these Hollows. Healing isn't an issue and neither is some pain. He was overextended, wide open after that attack! I could have killed him myself and been far less hurt than you throwing me d-... Sorry," he said, seeing the look of guilt on Seiko's face. "You were trying to help, I get that. But you need to consider your actions more before doing something like that. It's no exaggeration that you could have killed me. If you screw up like that consistently, don't expect us to travel together for very long."

Seiko nodded slightly, looking down and to the side.

"At least you seem sufficiently sorry. Good. Now let's continue."

Tetsuro grabbed the dead Hollow, heaving it down the stairs and out of the way, making a mighty clattering noise as its armor collided with stone. Tetsuro stepped past Seiko on the stairs, once again putting up his shield and moving forward. Around a corner, they came upon the parish balcony. There were Hollows in rags seated against walls, laying on the floor, lolling about everywhere, at least six of them if not more. At the sound of Tetsuro's clacking footsteps, they began to rise, picking up rotten chair legs, broken swords, metal bands meant for wooden barrels, all sorts of makeshift weapons, and began to approach.

"This might have been bad if they had waited for us to enter. Instead, stand back. I'll use this doorway to funnel them. No foresight, honestly," said Tetsuro, shaking his head in disappointment.

Seiko stepped back out of the way, but saw a flash of armor off to the side. She leaned to get a better look, but whatever it was was mostly hidden around a corner at the opposite corner of the room and out a doorway. Some power pulsed through the air and she could feel goosebumps rising all over her, an odd feeling after being Hollow so long.

Tetsuro handled the Hollows well enough. The first stepped in with a rusted and broken blade, which Tetsuro smacked aside with his shield, his sword drawing a red line over the Hollow's eyes. The next Hollow leapt forward, smashing a chair leg over Tetsuro's armored shoulder. Tetsuro took the blow and slashed back-handed, easily parting its flesh nearly to the spine under the ribs. He raised his shield again, at the moment Seiko had felt the strange power. The Hollow that struck his shield had a broken sword, and his blow pushed Tetsuro back, moving him off balance.

"What-?" he began, taken completely off guard by the sudden difference in strength from the previous Hollow. Two other Hollows pushed in behind the first as the first began slashing madly. It was sloppy, but for some reason even its haphazard blows were scarring Tetsuro's armor.

Again, on impulse, Seiko grabbed Tetsuro and pulled him out of the way with her left hand, this time swiping her right hand from low right to high left, a Fire Whip. The heat boiled the three Hollows alive, killing them almost instantly and continuing to burn as their corpses hit the ground. Seiko instantly reached down and lifted Tetsuro to his feet.

"Sorry!" she said quickly.

"No! That time it helped! They're thinner, come on!"

Tetsuro ran into the room, slashing at waist level to intercept another Hollow, then parrying another and kicking it to the floor. Seiko threw a fireball across the room at the last Hollow, pegging it in the chest. Tetsuro put his boot on the Hollow he'd kicked, cutting its throat as it lay helpless on the floor. Tetsuro put his shield up and looked around. No more Hollows.

"Careful. There's something else here," said Seiko. "That room."

Tetsuro looked to where she'd pointed, the opposite corner from where they'd entered. He approached the room, where a low voice was chanting. As soon as he rounded the door into view of whatever it was, a heavy bolt of magic exploded on his shield sending him to the floor on his butt. The huge figure, a Channeler from the Duke's Archives, began chanting again. Seiko jumped over Tetsuro and punched the thing in the chest. It flew further than it had sent Tetsuro, nearly to the opposite wall of the small room, but was relatively unharmed. It changed its chanting, suddenly glowing golden and vanishing.

"What in the… What was that thing?" said Tetsuro, getting up and looking over his shield. There was an imprint burned into the metal like rays of light emanating from a source in the center of the shield. The center had been sheared down to less than half of its original thickness.

"That could have been much worse. I don't know if this shield can take two of those in a row. Give me a second."

Tetsuro put the shield on the floor, damaged face up, and reached for a pouch on his belt. He took a pinch of the gold powder inside and threw it on the shield. The lightly enchanted repair powder settled into the design on the shield, filling it in again. Tetsuro had to take a second bit of powder to fix it completely.

"That makes me certain I can't take more than one hit like that with this shield. We need to hunt that thing down, I don't want to be waiting for it to show up again. I bet it did something to those Hollows, too."

Seiko nodded her agreement, hearing the chanting again, louder. She looked over the balcony into the rotten pews of the parish to see the Channeler gathering strength again. She pulled back just as a bolt seared the air by her head.

"Found it," she said, nervous.

The two rushed back down the stairs to find the Channeler flanked by three Balder Knights.

"That… That doesn't look like a whole lot of fun. I'm all for a good fight, but not something one-sided. That's one-sided. But if we don't deal with it now, they'll be waiting for us later. If we defeat the Gargoyles, no doubt a feat in itself, we'll be too tired to deal with them."

"Estus cures wounds and exhaustion, right?"

"Yes, why?"

"I have a plan. Stay here."

Before he could respond, Seiko dashed out of the stairwell and dove behind one of the less rotten pews. A chunk of the seat back was blown away near her by the Channeler and she ran across the aisle behind a closer pew. She heard the Hollowed knights approaching now and another shot from the Channeler missed her by far, overestimating how far she'd gone behind the pew. With the knights coming down the aisle, Seiko rounded the outside of the pews, now on the opposite side of the parish from Tetsuro who was debating running over to help. He ended his debating and ran to help, but slowed to a stop when he saw the bright and swirling flames in Seiko's hands. She ran completely past the Channeler, confusing it as it was expecting another direct attack, and put both hands on the ground. Pillars of blue fire erupted from the stone floor all over the main hall of the parish. One pushed the Channeler forward, the heat causing it to double over, and another lanced up into its head and shoulders. The Balder Knights were tossed into the air by the flames, burning to death quickly. The Firestorm ended with Seiko lacking the strength to even stand upright again.

Tetsuro walked over, regarding the scorch marks and charred corpses.

"That was… Quite the display of power, if not overdoing it a fair amount. Here, drink, you'll feel better."

He offered the Estus to her and she took it with shaking hands. She drank, but she didn't feel any better. She sighed and handed it back.

"It doesn't help…"

Tetsuro received the flask and looked at it. "Hmm. It may only help with physical wounds and exhaustion. Yours is a magical exhaustion, I suppose. It's the only thing I can think of that makes sense. You won't be any help in this state. Perhaps you should go back to the bonfire and rest. The way is clear to the roof, which was my goal anyway."

"I'm coming too," said Seiko, struggling to stand. Her knees shook, but she was up.

"Look at you, you can hardly stand, let alone walk. I'm not giving you more of my Humanity if you die, and I'm not going to wait for you to keep up. Make your choice, but I'm going up."

Tetsuro started walking to the stairs with Seiko shuffling behind him. He shook his head and kept walking.