Oscar gave the young undead a strange look, staring at him as if to ask if he was serious. Of course, Thomas was all too serious with his question. And Oscar was all too willing to shoot the suggestion down, again. Again, with no success.
"Look, Seer. I don't know why you think I could--would do that! But I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Is anything we'll be doing a good idea?"
"Under some circumstances, yes! But--"
"Look, I'll show you how to do it. Ain't that hard."
Pushing past Oscar and ignoring Anastacia's silent pleas, Thomas grabbed the iron bars and started pulling. Oscar didn't try to stop him now, for he thought that he'd eventually learn that it would be harder than he thought. But to give the young undead credit, he had some amazing grip strength. No matter how much he pulled, no matter how close to tripping and falling, did Thomas' hands slip from the bars? No they did not.
This came to an unfortunate head when after about three minutes of pulling, the watchers heard a rather loud crack come from the cell entrance. But it wasn't from the iron bars.
"Ah, motherfucker! Lord Gwyn's holy rectum, that fuckin hurts!"
"How did you succeed in breaking your arms before the bars?"
"Shut the hell up Oscar and feed me my estus flask!"
"Do you admit this was a bad idea? Cell doors are made to contain afterall. Now I don't know wh-"
"I know why she was put in there! And I dont give two fucks for any of the reasons!"
"Then how about you care for Anastacia's feelings on the matter?"
Doing his best to not yell in pain, Thomas looked to the girl in the cell. Anastacia, though she looked concerned for Thomas' acquired injury, looked as if she had accepted her fate in that cell. He thought about why she was in that cell, and what she'd say when she got her tongue back. Looking back on the conversation with the Crestfallen Warrior, Thomas knew he wasn't the best at changing people's attitudes, let alone world views. Maybe Oscar was right, this isn't such a good idea right now.
"Fine. I'll admit that this isn't a good idea. Not for whatever reasons you think! Just that I can't be doing this."
"Fine by me, now bottoms up!"
The taste of estus was odd, it was like drinking really warm lemonade. Liquid fire didn't taste how he expected it too, that was for sure. But he couldn't really complain, as he loved the feeling of his shoulders moving like they should. He understood why Artorias was in so much pain. But he suffered two broken arms, so take that Abysswalker! He had a one up on a living legend. How about that?
After a little gloating inside his head, Thomas came back to reality and looked at the two astorans, one of which was attempting to make conversation.
"My apologies madame, my friend here, Thomas, can be a tad eccentric. Forgive him."
"Yeah, sorry about that. Astoran knights should be noble, and that was anything but."
Anastacia perked up at the mention of her homeland, and Thomas realized he never made proper introductions.
"Oh, how could I forget. Oscar, this is Anastacia of Astora. And Anastacia, this is Oscar of Astora."
"My name is Thomas. Thomas of Astora. Please, accept my apology from earlier."
Though she couldn't say it aloud, Thomas and Oscar could understand that she had accepted it. Her attempting to sign to them, even though they didn't know what any of the hand gestures meant, helped to alleviate the mood.
"Look, I don't get the hand signs, but thank you nonetheless. Oh, if you dont mind, I'd like to leave a summon sign here. You don't mind, do you?"
"Why would you want to do that, Seer?"
"Cause for all the friendly faces we'll meet in Lordran, we'll meet just as many unpleasant ones. And this way, she'll have some help if she needs it."
"Oh, if you dont mind of course."
She shook her head, and gestured for him to write it down. He grabbed out the white soapstone and wrote down his summon sign, in a language he knew but didn't understand, just in front of the cell door. That way, she could summon him at the first sign of trouble with no hassle.
Of course, then there was the problem of time. Summon signs did take a minute to actually summon your help.
"Okay, so. These little scribbles are done. But I'll try to get the knight up there to help as well. That's fine with you, Ana?"
Surprised by the new nickname, Anastacia then agreed, not all that afraid or hesitant of the Crestfallen Knight. He'd never attempted to harm her before, so why would this be any different. Thomas thought the same thing, but Oscar was the one that was sceptical.
"Seer, what makes you so sure this crestfallen fellow won't try something?"
"He's sad and a dick, not crazy. He has to have some morals and feelings left, otherwise he'd already be hollow."
"And what if he doesn't?"
"The man is wearing plain chainmail and, as far as I'm aware, has nowhere to go. If he even tried anything, we could stop him."
"If you say so. I just don't think this is a good idea."
"Welp, I'm full of bad ideas, so ya better get used to it."
Would Oscar's headache ever subside? Probably not. Best he just "get used to it" as someone would tell him. Well, all that aside, Thomas was already heading off, so he went to follow. Saying goodbye to Anastacia, Oscar ran up the stone steps to the bonfire bowl. Already there, Thomas was once again attempting to talk with the Crestfallen Warrior. He wasn't having the best luck, however, as the warrior simply wasn't up for conversation with the young undead.
"Look man, I just-"
"I don't care for what you want, greenhorn. You have a journey to go on, so leave me be already."
"Why do you have to be so difficult? I-"
"Why do you have to be so persistent, greenhorn?"
Oscar chose that moment to step in, seeing as Thomas looked ready to strangle the warrior, and the warrior in turn, was ready to gut the young undead. He was amazed that the warrior could keep up with all of Thomas' oddities, and that he had even managed to stump the young undead. He wouldn't be impressed if he stabbed him, however, Even if the young undead would simply walk it off like a got bit by a raccoon.
"Gentleman, please, let's be civil here. I never made your acquaintance, I am Oscar of Astora. May I ask what your name is?"
"...I don't have one. I forgot it after one death in Blighttown. You may call me Graham, however."
Oscar was quick to shut down any remark from Thomas, and quick to look down upon Graham's smirk.
"Well Graham, my friend and I would like to ask that you watch over the firekeeper down below."
"Why should I? I have no need to do anything of the sort. Now leave me be, and go on your way. The two bells aren't going to ring themselves!"
"Two bells?"
"Look Graham, the firekeeper keeps the fire safe, so if you want this bonfire to keep you warm, then it'd be best if you made sure nothing happened to her."
Graham actually looked impressed that Thomas had managed to say something that sounded like a fair argument. And he was quick to taunt him about it, too. A bit of a jokester, this one was. Never an opportunity to mock someone was left open on his watch.
"Why, it seems the child can talk after all. A sound argument right there, if I do say so myself."
"Good, so you'll-"
"But there's one problem with your argument. I don't care."
Thomas didn't even try to finish his sentence, choosing to stare at Graham as the warrior pulled an apple out of seemingly nowhere, and began to eat it. The duo had a bit of a staring contest for a moment, while Oscar was in the back trying to grasp the concept of there being two bells of awakening. Had his life been a lie? Years of being fed stories of undead, and how Lordran held a bell that would take the chosen undead to meet their true fate. Had that simply been a lie, the whole time. For surely someone couldn't have just forgotten the fact that the journey to an undead's fate would be twice as long.
Oscar was broken out of his musing, by the sound of a tumble and gasp from someone. It was Thomas and Graham, both tussling on the ground, as Thomas kept punching Graham in the stomach, and Graham kept hitting Thomas in the head. Neither party relented in their attacks, and it was up to Oscar to pull them apart like two cats. After giving Graham a moment to puke in the well, and Thomas to regain his bearings and sense of balance, Oscar had the two separate and attempted to talk it out.
"Would either of you mind explaining your behavior, just now?"
"This mad man just tackled me and attempted to choke the life out of me!"
"And I'd do it again, you little shit!"
"Thomas! Please, let's be civil here!"
Like children being scolded by a parent, both the warrior and young undead, turned their heads to the side as they pouted to themselves. Well, Thomas' was a pout, Grahams' was more of a small sneer.
"Look, I said what I said. I'm not helping you two."
"Oh my Gwyn, could you be anymore of an asshole! You're not helping us, you're helping the firekeeper!"
"Gentleman-"
"She's perfectly fine in that cell! In all my time I've been here, she's never once gotten hurt!"
"You motherfucker, well she-"
"Gentleman! One at a time, and no more obscenities or profane language!"
Oscars shout broke up the two squabbling undead, and both once again turned their heads to the side. They all sat in silence for a time, whether to cool off or waiting for someone to say something, the reason wasn't all that clear nor important. Finally, after about five minutes of silence, Thomas was the first to break the silence, talking to at first seemingly no one.
"...what if we tame the crow?"
"Pardon?"
"What?"
"Graham, If we can tame the Velka Crow up there, will you do what we want?"
Turning to look at the mentioned crow, the giant creature was staring right back at them. Its beady eyes seemed to stare into Thomas' soul, as if daring him to try anything. And it just so happened that the young undead was up for the challenge. And now Graham just wanted to watch him fail, hard.
"...if you can tame that crow, then yes, I'll protect the firekeeper."
"Good, Oscar, follow me."
"-*sigh*-Yes, Seer."
Feeling as if he was going across the walk of shame, Oscar expected they would go for some stairs or an elevator, in order to get to the crow. But when he witnessed Thomas attempt to jump onto a platform two feet above him, in a full plate of armor, he finally learned that the young undead just wouldn't do things the conventional way.
"Seer, may I ask why we do not take some stairs or an elevator?"
"Cause there's someone in the way, that I'd rather not talk too right now. He'd probably be more difficult than Graham."
"If you say so."
After about an hour of climbing in heavy suits of armor, Thomas and Oscar finally got to a spot where they just had to climb stairs to get to the crow. The giant bird watched the two a look of mockery in its eyes as the two fell and climbed and fell again. After having fallen enough to need two sips of estus, the astoran duo made their way up to the giant crow.
Finally, they were face to face. One animal to another, as Oscar watched the Seer attempt to pet the beast. It went about as well as one would expect, as the thing went and bit his hand. Not one to give up, however, Thomas tried again and again to get the crow to allow him to pet him. After having his hand thoroughly chewed, Thomas was finally able to pet the creature, giving him the chance with his other hand. Now that that was done, it was time to see if the bird would listen to anything they said. That would be Oscar's job.
"Why me?"
"Cause you got Graham to listen, so the crow shouldn't be too hard."
"Getting someone to listen to you is an entirely different thing to getting an animal to listen to you. But fine, I'll do it."
Walking up to the bird with as much calm in his nerves as he could muster, Oscar attempted to speak to it. That went surprisingly better than Thomas' attempt to pet it, had gone. Even a little surprising, considering what the crow said.
"Uh, hello there, my fine feathered friend. How are you?"
"...I am f-f-fine, noble astoran...thank you for a-asking."
The duo of knights froze up when they heard the rather girlish voice come from the bird. Oscar froze out of both surprise and fear, and Thomas froze out of amazement. The bird spoke! They never had that in the game, though the presence of Snuggly the Crow showed that birds could speak. He had just never heard a fully grown one speak. It was fascinating, to say the least.
"You can speak?!"
"Yes...it's a tad hard b-because I haven't done so in a while...but I can speak."
"That's awesome!"
"Indeed it is."
Oscar woke back up, the surprise of the talking crow washing off. He thought about the logistics of a crow speaking, but figured that this was lordran, home of the gods, a talking animal or two would be the least surprising thing he'd come across on his journey. Taking some time to watch Thomas speak with the crow, he found the sight rather humorous. That aside though, the two seemed to be locked in a conversation about the process of bringing undead to firelink shrine. Apparently, the duo were the only undead to have been brought from the asylum.
Which, now that he thought about it, made a lot of sense to Oscar, for he couldn't have gone around the asylum, due to the Demons roaming around, so whoever came to challenge the undead prison would have had to face the same demons. And of course, they were still there when the duo went through the Asylum. Why had he even questioned this to begin with?
"That's cool, so me and Os are the only ones to be "chosen". So to speak."
"Correct."
"Cool. Oh, I have a request to make of you...uh...I never asked your name."
"My name is Jammy," (A/N said like Jamie, but spelled weird cause it's Dark Souls, idk) "and I heard your bet with the Crestfallen Warrior."
"So you'll help us?"
"Nay, I will not. Not out of animosity, but because I find it rather amusing how you try to get him to talk. He hasn' even so much as had a true laugh in years. I'd like to see you do that much, at least."
"But wouldn't his reaction to us riding your back be even better? Come on, think about Jammy!"
"Seer, did you think that perhaps, she just doesn't want you riding on her back?"
"While that is not my only reason, Oscar, I wouldn't disagree. Listen to me, Thomas. I would like you to make a friend out of the Crestfallen Warrior."
"Why's that?"
"He can be a kind and gentle man. Just hard to approach is all. In fact, he protected the firekeeper once. A cleric had come to the shrine once, and became outraged with the maiden, for reasons I don't rightfully recall."
"But one thing came to another, and the Warrior attempted to fight the cleric off. He lost, however, and it was some bald traveler that had stopped the mad cleric."
"He then stripped him of his armor, however, which is why he wears a simple chain link outfit. Rather humorous, in a way."
Thomas looked as if he had just been told the true fate of the undead. "More lore for the Crestfallen Warrior? Awesome!" the young undead thought as he figured that Patches was the traveler that had stopped the cleric. His conclusion due to both the armor stealing and involvement of a cleric. Cause if there two things Patches was known for, it was hating clerics and kicking you off cliffs to loot your corpse. Maybe now Thomas could ask him why he did that, but he was getting sidetracked in his thinking.
The Crestfallen Warrior had once been a decent person. How hard was the Undead Burg for him, to make him such an asshole ? Surely he had enough fight in him to make it to the Bell Gargoyles, so where did he fail? Oh, how deep the rabbit hole goes.
"I get where you're coming from, in which case, I have an idea."
"Hm?"
"Oh no."
Graham was minding his business, laughing to himself as he watched the bonfire, waiting for those two astorans to come down from the top of the ruined tower. They'd never succeed in taking the crow, Velka's servants and pets were loyal and steadfast in their worship of her. No way in Izalith would they be swayed or domesticated by two foolhardy astoran knights. And Graham was proven right in his thinking, as next thing he knew, the young undead knight, who's name was Thomas if he recalled, seemed to be thrown to the ground landing in a heap next to the bonfire.
Behind him was the other knight, Oscar. Falling down like his fellow countrymen, the noble astoran fell with far more grace than the young undead before him. But he fell nonetheless, and now the two astoran knights were lying in a heap next to the bonfire, while the crow looked down at them. Graham looked at the bird, then back down at the two knights, and then back at the bird. Finally, the warrior stared at the duo, watching them get back up and try again, only to be thrown back down a minute later.
After watching them do this about three times, Graham couldn't take it. He'd been watching two gullible astorans attempt to ride a bird, in order to get him to do them a favor. A favor mind you, Graham was going to do the moment they came back. He couldn't have the firekeeper dying after all, where else could he sit and be free from the annoyances of Lordran? But these knights were really going through the trouble of attempting to tame a giant crow, and were failing every time. And Graham was finding it more amusing by the minute.
When Thomas fell for the fourth time, Oscar followed with a not so graceful tumble, Graham started to snicker. Then he started to chuckle, until he was full on laughing, holding his sides while simultaneously howling with laughter and coughing from an underused throat. He hadn't had a laugh like that in a long time. In fact, when was the last time he had laughed this hard? Oh, Graham didn't care. He'd forgotten stuff like that a while ago, and he wasn't about to think about them now. So he laughed a good laugh, the first one he'd had in a while.
"Good show, you two! Hahaha, you're hilarious!"
"That was the best laugh I've had in a damn long time! I have to say, you idiots are truly comedic!"
"-*huff*-thanks for the-*huff, huff*-laughs. We live to please."
"We were only supposed to do that three times."
"Graham-*cough*-Graham is right. That display was rather humorous."
"Jammy, you're only saying that cause you got to drop us!"
"*chuckle* maybe."
The sight of a talking crow didn't surprise Graham, surprising the Astorans instead. For after all, Graham had, despite not completing anything, traveled most of Lordran and seen many strange things. Talking animals were some of the least surprising among the many inhabitants of the land of the gods. Graham simply waved her off as she went back to her nest above the tower. It seemed that he didn't hold animosity or any of that signature coldness, towards her. But that part aside, it was time for him to address the two astorans.
"Well you two, I'll be downstairs if you need me."
"Wait, you'll actually help us?"
"*groan* I believe I made it quite obvious. I will go and watch over the firekeeper. You lot may not have tamed the crow, but you gave me a good show. Now off with you, at least with the Firekeeper, I'll have some peace and quiet."
And just like that, Graham's attitude was back, and neither astoran was sad as the crestfallen warrior walked down the stone stairs. While they wished he would stop being so abrasive to them, neither Thomas nor Oscar could complain that he decided to help them. Oscar was glad that the maiden wasn't as defenseless now, and Thomas now knew that a certain embraced knight would be less inclined to do anything.
And now that he was thinking about Lautrec, Thomas' mind was then pulled to the other occupant of Firelink Shrine. If he was being honest with himself, he didn't know if he wanted to try and deal with Petrus, right now. The cleric was surely a well-trained knight, having made it to Lordran in the first place, and having been able to escape the Catacombs on his own.
Thomas was determined to make sure he didn't leave that hell hole alone, though. The trio of clerics may not have been the most interesting characters, they didn't deserve the fates they got. That time wouldn't come for a while, however, as the trio made their entrance sometime after ringing the first bell. So he had time, more time away from Petrus, anyways. Now he needed to figure out how they'd approach Undead Burg. The Northern Asylum may have been just like he remembered from the original game, that didn't mean that the other areas would be just like he remembered. Dear lord, what if Lost Izalith was even worse than he remembered? Or Blighttown!?
Cool it Thomas, those places can come later, don't worry about it, breath in breath out. Okay, now that he was fine, holy gwyn the thought of a realistic blighttown was terrifying, Thomas could focus on their next moves to Undead Burg. If he was correct, Griggs of Vinheim was there, locked behind some door in the lower areas. For someone that was almost definitely one of those vinheim assassins, that was just so stupid. At least Laurentius had a real reason for needing to be rescued. Could they break down doors now?
"Seer? Seer, are you alright?"
"Hm? Oh. Oh, I'm alright Oscar. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just, you've been staring off into space for a while, I was worried."
"Aw, thanks for worrying about me, Oscar! But I'm fine, I was just thinking about where we're gonna go next."
"Shouldn't we go to the Undead Burg? That's where that bridge and multiple undead lead, isnt it?"
"Right you are, Oscar. But I don't know how much of it stayed the same."
"What do you mean? I thought you saw the future?"
"Well, I do know what should happen, who we'll meet and where, stuff like that. But more of the finer details seem to have changed."
"Like what?"
"Well for instance, you were supposed to die in the asylum."
"Oh."
"And the crow, Jammy, didn't speak. I wasn't aware that she could speak."
"Maybe things have just...changed."
"Well, I figured that much out already, Oscar. Problem is, I don't know what's changed."
The silence following their conversation was uncomfortable, to say the least. Thomas was trying to speculate on what they should do next, and Oscar was thinking about the possible differences between the Seers reality, and the one they found themselves in. Of course, without much knowledge of said alternate reality, Oscar was more so focused on the prospect of him supposed to have died in the asylum. For there was no doubt that he would have died there, if Thomas didn't forcibly help him recover. He wondered, if Thomas was supposed to get a key to enter the hallway leading to the rusted iron ring, then would he have had to face Oscar's hollowed self?
The thought was frightening, for as little time they had spent together, Oscar had grown attached to Thomas, he felt like a kid brother to him. And the possibility of hurting him after death, nearly scared him to death itself. But there was no what ifs, for Thomas had saved him in that dirty cell, and by his previous actions, seemed intent on saving those that needed saving. So instead of worrying about what could have been, Oscar would focus on being with Thomas for what would be.
"...well, I may not have your gift of future vision, nor have I known you for long, but hear this. You saved me from that death in the Asylum, so in return, I'll follow you wherever you go."
"Aw, thanks, Oscar. It's nice to hear that. You better keep that promise. If you go hollow, I'll bring you back just to kick your ass."
"Hah, I'd expect no less from you, at this point. Same right back at you, Thomas. Don't you dare go hollow."
"Got it, Os. Don't worry about me. Now then, off to Undead Burg, I guess?"
"Off we go then."
And so the duo go off, walking down the beaten path towards Undead Burg. In the distance, growls and roars of fearsome creatures could be heard, but neither party would falter in the face of such beasts. The forces of Lordran wouldn't stop Thomas on his quest to avert the cycle of fire Gwyn had started, and Oscar would follow along all the while. This Age of Fire wouldn't know what hit it.
The last hollow fell to the floor, Solaires straight sword being pulled from the stab wound in its stomach. Giving a small prayer, the sunlight warrior continued on his path, looking for just the right view. It had been difficult making his way up on top of the wall, especially with the Taurus Demon walking around. It hadn't been fun trying to avoid it, especially with his armor nearly giving him away. But he had made it past the Demon, and now he had made it past a few hollows as well.
He'd crossed the bridge, thinking that he had seen a familiar statue, but sadly, it was broken to pieces. Only the cross hilt of the spear and the stone carving of his gods sandals, were left recognizable. The view however, was truly amazing, the light shining down on the broken statue, as if to say that though his image was gone, the firstborn was still there. And Solaire could feel in his heart that his god was there, for no one in the Sunlight Covenant would abandon one another. But he could still feel this sense of emptiness, and how he wished to fill it.
"The land of Lordran is truly a wondrous place. Befitting the birthplace of Lord Gwyn and his children, really. Oh, if only I could find my own sun. How wondrous the thought."
So on his way to open the gate blocking his way forward, Solaire noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It was light, a bright spot of light at the opposite end of the bridge. Oh, how had he not noticed it before, the sun shined so bright he should have been able to see it the moment he opened the door. Rushing on over, Solaire found it, a truly beautiful spot to look at the sun. A large balcony type spot, the sun shined down on the ledge, far more than at the sunlight altar, for there were no buildings or walls obstructing this wonderous view.
Overhead, Solaire thought he saw a drake fly by. It took no notice of him however, and Solaire knew not to try and get its own, so he silently watched the drake fly off as he basked in the sunlight. There were no enemies here, and he didn't need to rush on over to the kiln, so Solaire chose to take a moment to rest. He stood proud on the balcony, and looked to the magnificent sun shining down on him, then hearing sounds of a creature roaring in the distance, The Taurus Demon, if he was correct. The beast roared and roared, and Solaire contemplated running to help whoever had been facing the beast. But then its roars went silent, and the sound of a giant object falling could be heard. It would seem the Taurus Demon was defeated.
"Beating a Taurus Demon, especially one that has grown to that size, is not easy. I wonder if I should go over to congratulate them?"
He looked to the sun, a warm feeling filling the hole in his chest for but a moment.
"The path leads here anyways, so I see no harm in waiting for them. Let me bask in this incandescent light, but a little longer, would you, Lord Gwyn?"