Foreword.
A moment of your time if you would. I am certain you wonder what this is all about. To be quite frank I am rusty as hell. In a similar vein to "dogbertcarroll's" "Fragments" series and similar concepts from other authors, I decided its high time to start practicing once more. After all the "work", the "craft", the "maegic" whatever you want to call it is a demanding mistress. And since I don't want to blight the hallowed ,and deliciously lewd, grounds of QQ with my crap you get to be the lucky recipients of my whims.
Now there are two ways of looking at this, you are getting it raw without lube.
Or
Its early access to various ideas which might one day become their own, polished, stand alone stories.
Tl;dr: Updates whenever about whatever and not confined to one setting or set of characters.
Humming a non descript tune while listening to the waves and the seagulls around her, Shanalotte felt her tension melt away. Were she to think about it she would say that this was something entirely new, something which she would have never believed to be possible before.
After all the flame was dying, Majula served as ample proof of that. A crumbling decrepit ruin of a town. One where lost souls were drawn to like moths to a flame, only for them to slowly wither away. Nothing new or good happened here. Her eternal vigil was proof enough..
Yet now, now Majula was teeming with life! New souls with new found hopes and desires littered about the town. Some visiting intermittently, like that masked blonde swordswoman, who so often enquired about her bearer's whereabouts. The mere idea of it caused something ugly to take root within and marred her tune. Pausing she shook her head, moving on.
Visitors aside many new permanent residents had appeared as well. Picking a spot of their own as their home, salvaged from what was available. Whether a rotting house or a crumbled wall was irrelevant. After all the undead cared little for the whims of the weather.
It was almost as if the very air carried..hope.
"Huh, I was starting to think you wouldn't make it back!" Her reverie broken at hearing the gruff blacksmith's words, the herald smiled.
The bearer, and soon to be monarch, gave a melodic laugh in response as she replied. Before falling into a deep discussion with said smith, if one knew the man well enough. And she did, for he was one of the longest living fixtures within this decrepit town, they would discover that the old smith's words and tone contained barely hidden relief. But to those who had no such insight, he was as grumpy as ever.
Business concluded shortly after, the warrior exited the shop and started making her way towards her. As the sounds of crumbled grass and clunking plate grew louder Shanalotte turned with a soft small smile, one that only her savior was allowed to witness.
Reaching her side and dropping to one knee the future monarch spoke, "My lady I return!"
"So I see, and victorious yet again no less. The soul of yet another ancient one courses through you, no?"
"It is as you say my lady," nodded the knight, "and my travels have been fruitful in other ways as well. This is for you." she said producing a pale flower, its sweet fragrance filling the air around them now that it was in real space once more.
Taking the offered flower the woman smiled as her cheeks gained but a touch of red. The hero, her offering given, gazed downwards in contemplation while squeezing her sword's pomel with a gauntleted hand.
"One step closer to breaking free of the cycle, one step closer to defeating this curse. My thanks Aldia, for your words continue to be true.."
Shanalotte scowled for a moment before smoothing her expression as her lov..charge! Lifted her helmet and sought her gaze once more. That could pose a problem, that old fool's games were equally likely to result in everyone's doom as well as their salvation. The woman could only hope that this was one of the better gambles of the old man's. She would have to trust the bearer's intuition and..hope.
Seeing an arm lifting and reaching towards her she grasped the proffered limb, "My herald, I require your gift. For I bring you many souls"
Her fingers gently hugged the metal gauntlet, almost caressing it as a white light started emanating from their union, "Of course oh bearer, let these lost souls soothe your burden and be of aid in your travels."
After an instant and an eternity, the work was finished, the monarch in the making stood. Where as before numerous gathered souls had been loosely attached to her once feeble soul, now grand. No sign of them remained, only a mighty soul having grown mightier still.
With a sigh and almost reluctantly retracting her hand the hero stood, before giving the herald a bow and turning to depart once more. Her duty never ending.
The woman frowned at the hero's one track mind, it was getting worse! This..wasn't good. "Bearer wait! What about your good luck kiss?"
At her words the warrior paused, turning towards her once more, the embarrassment almost palpable. In her haste, their usual ceremony being forgotten entirely. The fire-keeper waved away the mumbled apologies with a smile.
"Tis no matter, I understand the weight you carry. But please, surely you can spare a moment or two..for me? After all the King and the ancient ones will still be there whether a minute or a day from now on, no?"
"I..but.." she shook her head, "My apologies, you are right of course my lady."
Nodding the woman stepped back taking her customary seat by the bonfire and patting the rock by her side, invitation clear. Her knight after a moment's hesitation joined her, finally removing her helmet a moment after sitting, scarlet locks spilling forth and emerald eyes seeking her own causing a flutter of joy to pass through her heart.
'How long has it been since she has removed her helmet, much less the rest of her armor? Shalquoir tells me that she pays less and less attention to 'trivial' matters, unless she mentions things related to the old ones or me..'
Once Shanalotte would have been indifferent to it all, yet this last charge, this oh so different bearer had sparked something new and succeeded where so many others had failed. Seeing these captivating orbs, so far from hollowing yet nonetheless emptier each time the warrior returned but for when gazing at her..It irked her.
But putting her concerns and worries aside for the moment she simply enjoyed those blissful moments. Letting out a rare giggle at one of the bearer's rare attempts at a joke. It was such a dad joke too!
Unfortunately, in this cursed world nothing lasts, and before long the bearer feeling enough time had passed, stood once more and she followed, stepping closer as she did so. Receiving her good luck kiss with a blush the woman cleared her throat and fastened her helmet once more before kneeling by the bonfire and activating its profane magics all the while she mumbled stuttered farewells. Disappearing in a haze of flame in but an instant later.
At her charge's departure a worried frown once again marred Shanalotte's face, re-taking her seat she once again started losing herself to the simple pleasure of enjoying this breeze of hope , all the while pondering ways to help soothe the bearer's troubled mind. And in a secret and oh so small part of her mind, where she could ponder things forbidden, she dared to dream of a future where it was just the two of them.
The crunching of grass and the sound of steps once again broke her reverie, blinking she turned and gazed towards the source. It seemed that a newcomer was in town, yet it felt like it was just moments ago since her knight had departed. 'It would seem that the words of my teachers and the ancient texts ring more true by the day..How did they put it? "when the light of the fire fades, time's grasp grows feeble" '
"Miss Herald, greetings. I spoke to the other residents of the town and apparently, she passed here recently. According to the smith you are the one who she was seen with last, if you could point me towards her direction, I would be much obliged"
Her eyes fell upon that irritating mask, and the lithe figure wearing it,"Oh, but of course Lady Lucatiel." She suspected that her smile and words were not as kind as she wished but in this case she just..couldn't find it within her to care.
"Anything for such a good..friend of hers"
"My thanks Herald, after all. In those cursed times one should never be alone. A trusted companion with whom to travel is a gift beyond compare. But worry not! I would be sure to pass on any message from her treasured ..friend back home if you wish."
She suspected that in this one instance the feeling was mutual.