Event 10: The Bed Of Chaos
"Dragons' homes... Arch trees..." said Seiko, looking at the roots leading downward, their only path to continue forward.
"You think those are the roots of arch trees? Didn't we see something resembling them on the way to the Gravelord?" said Jinta, his helmet off, the bonfire warmly lighting his thoughtful face.
"I suppose it's not impossible. I just wonder how we would go about proving it. The only thing in all of Lordran that resembles an arch tree is that dead collection of wood in Blighttown's bog. You remember it, don't you?"
Seiko nodded, considering. If they decided to investigate, it would only be on the way out after all.
"Worth a look...?" she asked.
"I find myself agreeing with you, actually, yes. But we're already so far into Chaos. This bonfire is linked; I could take us out right now. Yet, I think we should finish what we've started first."
Seiko nodded again, agreeing.
"Then we should get moving. Time is not on our side, after all," said Jinta, scratching his close-cut hair and replacing his Paladin's helmet on his head.
Seiko stood, pulling up her hood. Her long hair still hung out of the side of the hood, and she took a minute as she always did to slide it behind her head. With it hanging down her back under the hood and coat, it wouldn't get in the way in a fight. The two descended the thick roots to a brick floor, a white mist door barring the way. When they approached to cross it, they heard boots behind them on the stone. Jinta drew his falchion and Seiko clenched a fireball in her fist, both turning in an instant to face the noise. It came as a surprise, then, when they saw Knight Solaire of Astora behind them.
"I'm afraid I must warn you against entering that room with your guard down," said Solaire, his sword and shield already drawn.
"And why is that?" said Jinta.
"The demon within has already bested me twice. Chop off a limb and it remains alive, attacking separately from the main body. Stand far away and it can stretch to attack you. It's certainly an issue."
"Then we fight together. As long as it's another demon, I am its mortal foe. And as long as it is not of the Ab- Ow!"
Seiko had elbowed him to stop him. Not everyone knew she held the Abyss, and not many would leave her in peace if they knew.
"Sorry," said Jinta to Seiko. Continuing with Solaire, he said, "At any rate, I'm sure we can win together."
"'In abundance of counselors there is victory,' as it is written," said Solaire in agreement. He looked from Jinta to Seiko and back, his tone a bit suspicious of why she stopped him.
Sure enough, upon pushing through the thick mist, the small group entered a chamber that seemed devoid of any enemies. A small strip of land continued to the left, but the rest of the room was covered in magma with few places to stand safely. From what seemed like nowhere, a huge figure crashed into the shallow magma, roaring in a nightmare's voice. It was a mass of centipedes, deformed legs lifting it from the floor. One arm dominated its right side, seeming to be alive on its own. It had a tail that was similar, moving and looking about with its own will. With it being across the room, any other warrior would have stopped to think of how to get close. It would be such a person's last mistake, however, as the demon thrust its large right arm forward, stretching across the entire chamber and slamming it into the stone wall. All three intruders had dodged, Jinta and Solaire to the left and Seiko to the right. When the demon pulled its arm back, Seiko was gone. With no signs she was dead, Jinta resolved to trust her and went about reciting a miracle to shield himself and Solaire from harm. Solaire abandoned incantations, putting his shield on his back and grasping a thunderbolt from thin air. Solaire threw the bolt like a javelin, striking the Centipede Demon's left eye. The demon howled in pain, sweeping its stretching arm over the battlefield blindly.
"... by way of the Great Magic Barrier!" finished Jinta, flashing briefly in a white light, and remaining covered with a thin film of holy energy. Solaire received the effects as well, readying another thunderbolt. The demon thrust its arm at the two again, understanding that the bolts were a threat. Jinta jumped in front of Solaire, raising his talisman. The demon's arm rebounded upwards, coming in contact with a barrier of white light. Frustrated, the demon charged forward, opting for close range combat, but giving up the advantage of staying out of reach.
"What's become of Seiko?!" yelled Solaire, drawing his shield again to prepare for combat.
"She disappeared! She may have already died," said Jinta, remorseful but retaining his fighting spirit.
As if to answer their questions, a giant steel arrow flew out of the air, striking the Centipede Demon's massive right arm in mid-charge. Another followed, burying deep into the demon's hide. Seiko, never one for words, had waited until the midst of battle to prove herself to Solaire. They hadn't met since Seiko had escaped Blighttown. With the two arrows splitting the demon's flesh, it halted its charge, looking up for the source. When it did, Seiko dropped from the ceiling, a sword made of Abyss in her hands. She landed, boots in the demon's eyes, and slashed at the demon's arm, severing it with the aid of her two arrows. The arm dropped to the magma, skittering its own legs, and charged Jinta and Solaire.
Solaire paused a moment, at a loss for words or a reaction. Seeing Seiko jump from the demon, chains of Abyss snaking out of her back to stab the demon and suspend her while attaching her to it... It was simply too much to believe. No one commanded the Abyss. But he had no time to think about it, quickly blocking a thrashing attack from the Centipede Demon's arm. Seiko, meanwhile, remained suspended from the demon, extending her Abyss sword to slash it again and again. When the demon whipped its tail over its head to attack her, Seiko dropped from her chains to a small solid platform. The chains of Abyss sank into the demon, corrupting it from within. Seiko drew her bow again, rolling aside when the demon rammed the wall next to her, then shot a few arrows into the demon's tail. In pain without and within, the Centipede Demon roared in rage and agony. From its mouth, black flames spewed, tainted by the Abyss within it.
Solaire, his shield wedged inside the living arm's mouth, stabbed his foe over and over with his Sunlight Straightsword, drawing blood but unable to force the demon to let go. Jinta jumped on top of the demon, slashing with his holy falchion. Where his blade met the demon's flesh, skin jumped apart as if afraid of coming in contact with the blade. Smoking from its wounds and bleeding from its face, the arm ceased writhing, dead at last. Solaire wrenched his shield from its mouth, then had to look again as it convulsed and threw up a small ring. He picked it up, setting it in a pouch attached to his belt for after the battle. He and Jinta turned to the Centipede Demon in time to see it grab up Seiko with its smaller left arm, lifting her to its back where a large mouth stretched open, drooling.
"Seiko!" yelled Jinta, drawing his Estoc rapier and charging the demon in the thin strip of land.
The demon, angered and in sheer agony, ignored Seiko's attempts to free herself from its grip. Spikes of Abyss, slashing, and flames did nothing to stop it. Jinta jumped, landing on the stump of the demon's right arm, then jumped again shifting his grip on both of his weapons. Holding both his rapier and falchion downward, Jinta stabbed both into the sides of the demon's mouth. The demon convulsed just like its arm had, roaring again. Bulging veins of Abyss burst all around Jinta's swords and the demon released Seiko. The moment she hit the ground, Seiko rolled to her feet and reached out her hand, forcefully calling the Abyss back to her. As Jinta jumped clear of the demon, landing near Solaire on the strip of land next to the wall, the Centipede Demon was ripped apart by all the Abyss fleeing its body at once. The bloody mess that remained crashed to the magma quite dead, leaving Seiko the time she needed to reabsorb all the Abyss remaining in the chamber...
"I see why she stopped you," said Solaire as Jinta and Seiko approached him. "I would certainly have objected to her presence had I learned in conversation. And while I have seen for myself now that M'Lady controls the Abyss quite masterfully, I must still insist we travel separately. I have an important task to complete, and I have enough to worry about from my enemies, if I may be so blunt."
"It's Seiko," said Seiko, looking up at Solaire's helmet with her piercing blue eyes. She had quite a dislike of not being addressed by name, especially since she'd once not had a name.
Solaire didn't respond. His helmet remained looking in her direction, his facial expression hidden behind it.
"I understand. We have to continue separately regardless of your feelings, however. Both of us need a Lord Soul, and there's only one in my world. A pleasure to fight beside you again, Solaire," said Jinta in response to Solaire.
"Indeed," said Solaire, flatly, drawing his Black Separation Crystal. Just as Seiko had seen before, Solaire faded to nothing but a ghost and walked away, continuing down the strip of land to the left. A cave at the end of the path lead further into Chaos, meaning it was also the way Seiko and Jinta had to go.
It took a bit of creativity, but with Seiko's help Jinta was able to pray for protection from Gwynevere. Without the ring Solaire had picked up, it was their only hope of crossing the rivers of magma in their way. Before long, Seiko and Jinta were fighting through Lost Izalith, the place they'd seen from Nito's domain. At a crossroad, Seiko opted to explore the right path, giving no reason. A few more stone demons dead and the small courtyard, overrun with arch tree roots, seemed to be clear.
Seiko and Jinta turned to leave when something caught Jinta's eye. In a shallow inset, there was a person standing on the brick floor, beckoning him. When he and Seiko drew near, the figure vanished and the floor collapsed beneath them. Seiko grabbed Jinta's hand and shot an Abyss chain from her palm into a root, swinging them almost full force into Siegmeyer of Catarina. Landing in a heap, Seiko and Jinta had to struggle to part from each other and stand, breathing a sigh of relief from their close call. The pit below was infested with demons shaped like cones, legs at the tip and a gaping mouth at the wide top. Siegmeyer didn't move a muscle, sound asleep on his feet. Seiko pulled at one of his arms to try and wake him up.
"Mm! Oh-hoh!" said Siegmeyer, waking. "Excuse me. I was so absorbed in thought, I just drifted away. It must be the warmth. Well, what's on your mind? No, don't tell me! Those monsters making life difficult for you? You need not be ashamed, M'Lady; we are in the same boat... You know, I really have run up quite a debt to you... Perhaps the time has come..."
Seiko started to say something, but she was too quiet, and Siegmeyer cut her off. She understood, however, and listened.
"Friend, I have an idea. A good one, really. I will ruse those dire fiends, and you can slip away in the confusion! Please, friend, I owe you much more than this. By the honour of the knights of Catarina, allow me to assist you! And now, I go! Don't be slow!"
With that, Siegmeyer pulled his small shield and huge sword from his back and jumped into the pit, landing with a crash and swinging widely to begin his assault. With a hearty cry, Siegmeyer did just as he'd said.
"Hrgrraaaaggh! Hiyaaaaaah! C'mon! Over here, you fiends! Perish, foul creatures! I am Siegmeyer of Catarina, and you shall feel... my wrath!"
"No! Wait!" said Seiko, jumping down after him.
"What-? You two-?! Damn it!" said Jinta, leaping down as well to help.
Just over a minute later and all four of the odd demons were dead. Siegmeyer, his helmet only allowing him to see what was in front of him, looked around in the silence to see Seiko and Jinta in the pit with him. Breathing heavily from his effort, Siegmeyer spoke, surprised.
"But, you! Didn't you get away...? Well, you've saved me... Once again... Thank goodness... I'm exhausted... I think I'll have a rest. Don't you worry, the ground below me is my pillow. I'll recover shortly..." he said, absolutely winded. At that, he fell back, dropping is sword and shield, passing out.
Seiko ran over, examining him. He was indeed still alive, but already asleep again.
"That was certainly interesting..." said Jinta. "I knew he was brave, but that was far too rash in my opinion."
Seiko nodded, smiling. "He meant well..." she said.
"I assume, then, that the only way out of this pit is down here. Otherwise, he'd have left a long time ago, wouldn't he?"
Another nod from Seiko as she stood. She and Jinta searched for the way out, ending up before the crossroad they'd come to. Choosing the left path this time, they were assaulted by a corrupted Sister of Chaos. For once, Seiko's Pyromancy came in handy, countering the witch's flames long enough for Jinta to close in and finish her. The same figure from before stood before them, beckoning them into another trap. Jinta and Seiko knew it, and looked for another way, finding the mist wall to their target then and there by accident. Crossing the mist, Jinta and Seiko found themselves on a very thin platform above a steep ramp. The ramp continued down, arch tree roots invading the path here and there, all the way to a huge chamber at the bottom. With no way to turn back, and their target before them, the two slid down the ramp, dodging the roots as best they could in the cramped tunnel downwards. Jinta hit the ground first, rolling to absorb the force, and drawing his falchion, ready for a fight. Instead, he beheld what had become of The Witch of Izalith...
Long ago, The Witch of Izalith had aided in the destruction of the arch trees that ancient dragons called home. After the fall of the dragons, the ruling Lords realized the First Flame was fading. The Witch of Izalith attempted to use her Pyromancy to recreate it, her Lord Soul, the Life Soul, at its heart. But the attempt failed, perverting her Lord Soul and corrupting herself and her Daughters of Chaos. Only Quelaana had escaped unscathed. With the explosion of power, Lordran saw its first demons, perversions of Life that now lived in Chaos. The Witch herself, however, had it even worse. Swallowed by the roots of the very trees she'd burned and corrupted the most, she now lay in the Bed of Chaos, where Jinta and Seiko now stood. Devoid of all sense, the mass of roots that was now The Witch of Izalith slowly lashed out at the two with a hand of cracked and aged wood. Held in place, it was all The Witch could do now.
"How do we even begin to fight this?! It's huge! If the wood is armor, it's keeping me from using my holy swords!" said Jinta.
Seiko pointed to two glowing hot shackles attached to the mass of wood and roots.
"I think those are there for a reason, don't you? What if breaking them sets her free?!"
"Then," Seiko said as calmly as ever, "She will have to break my will to escape."
Jinta, his face hidden in his Paladin helmet, only stared at her. She was right, of course, but it was risky. The Witch swiped at them again, silent. They dodged, but were separated.
"Alright, fine! I'll go for the shackles, you keep her busy!" yelled Jinta, getting up and running to the right of the circular chamber.
The Witch felt him getting closer, and attacked him first, raising a twisted wooden hand to crush him. Chains of Abyss burst from the ground around Jinta, stabbing into the hand. The ends, not actually attached to the ground, then raced toward Seiko, pulling the arm with them. The Witch now saw Seiko as a threat, aiming to crush her next. Seiko repeated the trick, grabbing the chains and forcing more to shoot from high on the wall behind her. With each hand stabbed through from above and below, they remained suspended above Seiko and spread apart. Now The Witch began shrieking from somewhere within, shifting from left to right to try and rip its arms free. It was then that Jinta broke the first shackle, reappearing and running for the left side of the mass of roots. As he passed in front of The Witch, an orange claw of flame rose from within and slashed at him. Jinta rolled to dodge, continuing his sprint for the other shackle. Seiko tried to restrain this new claw, but the Abyss had nothing to strike. With nothing but Pyromancy, The Witch was forming a solid talon and stabbing at Jinta. Unable to use Pyromancy from so far away, Seiko yanked the black chains in her hands down, forcing the wooden hands to the ground. Flames bursting from her eyes, Seiko slammed her hands onto the center of each large wooden hand, burning holes through them and melting them to the brick. Swiping Abyss over the melted areas, Seiko cooled them quickly, gluing the wood in place. Absorbing the Abyss as she ran forward, Seiko switched to using Pyromancy, whipping flames out to intercept the talon before it could strike at Jinta again.
"Last one!" yelled Jinta, hacking at the glowing shackle.
With The Witch freed, pillars of flame began ripping the brick floor apart. The Witch formed many flame-talons, forcing Jinta and Seiko to dodge attacks from above and below, while avoiding the pits forming where the floor collapsed.
"Now what?!" said Jinta, running toward Seiko.
The floor collapsed under them and for a moment, it seemed they'd both die. Seiko landed on a thick arch tree root, luckily, but Jinta fell into the darkness.
"Jinta!" yelled Seiko, reaching out her hand. Chains of Abyss shot into the darkness on instinct, but reached nothing. Jinta was gone, and the nearest bonfire was somewhere in Lost Izalith.
Seiko looked up at the figure made of flames, the true form of The Bed of Chaos, what had become of The Witch of Izalith. The Witch stabbed all of her talons at Seiko, summoning flames below her at the same time. Seiko disappeared in fire and heat, consumed from every direction by Pyromancy... But Pyromancy is the actualization of the inner self. One Pyromancer surpasses another not only by experience, but by force of will and self-confidence. With a will more unbreakable than Artorias, her father, Seiko let her own blue flames explode from within her. Out of the orange and red fires of Chaos, a blue fireball rushed forth with Seiko in the center. Hood off, coat and hair billowing from the rushing flames, Seiko stood her ground, defying the Lord holder of the Life Soul. In rage and sorrow, Seiko walked up the root she had landed on, leading right into The Bed of Chaos itself. Roots crumbled before her flames, clearing a path effortlessly into the heart of the original demon. There, under all the twisted roots and fire, lay a twisted form blackened and writhing. The Witch of Izalith herself. With the enthusiasm of brushing a fly from the window sill, Seiko waved her hand and stabbed the figure with chains of Abyss a thousand times. Withdrawing the chains, Seiko watched the figure dissolve, leaving nothing behind.
Seiko's flames slowly faded, and the only thing keeping her conscious was the power she received from the dying Witch. Seiko had survived... In the small alcove Seiko found herself in was a bonfire, most likely the place The Witch of Izalith had been working with. Jinta, when he revived in three days, would revive here. Tired beyond reason from her outburst, Seiko collapsed next to the bonfire, not even thinking to drink from her Estus Flask...
Event 11: The Great Hollow coming soon...
Author Note (long, tl;dr at the end):
Since I submitted my last event, Twin Humanities has reached more than 1000 views. I don't have the words to express how I feel about that. I come from six years of writing on deviantArt, and writing for my own original ideas. I come from six years of practice that not even friends or family cared to read. 100 views is beyond astonishing for me. To show my gratefulness, I already have extra events planned following the conclusion of Dark Souls (the game) to show where Jinta and Seiko end up. I also have events planned for the Prepare To Die edition (Artorias Of The Abyss for the console). Lastly, I have started a poll on my profile for which three stories I should continue. Regardless of the final vote, I will finish Twin Humanities. If Twin Humanities is chosen as one of the three, I will do even MORE for it. If it continues to be popular, I will be sure to plan a fanfic for Dark Souls 2 when it is released and I'm able to play it. Thank you all, each and every one of you, for reading. I hope you continue to enjoy my work, and I greatly appreciate any and all criticism and reviews. As always, until next time...
(tl;dr: Twin Humanities is more popular than anything I've ever written before. Keep reading, and I'll keep writing. Vote for it on my profile poll if you like it. Thanks for reading.)