-Blighttown-

A gentle hand probed for life, patting the Undead woman and speaking to her. She slowly awoke, remembered what had happened, and suddenly bolted up, looking around.

"My, my, you are a lucky one," said the figure who had woken her. "I am Quelaana, of Izalith. Who are you, to have fallen from the sky in such a way?"

The Undead shook her head slightly. "I don't remember."

"You don't know who you are? Then you very nearly Hollowed, I'd say. Are you from the Undead Asylum?"

"Yes. A crow brought me."

"Strange. Usually it has seen fit to leave new arrivals in a much safer place than this."

"It was attacked by a dragon."

"A dragon?! I find that hard to believe, child. Perhaps you saw a drake? Those are much more likely… In any case, do you know where you are?"

"Lordran?" said the Undead woman, hopeful.

"You are indeed. Though in your state I fear you won't last long. Is there anything you can remember about yourself?"

The Undead woman took pause, thinking. "I remember… I'm very strong, I was sent to the Asylum a long time ago, my parents were… Important… And I stayed in the Asylum of my own will for a long time, but by the time I wished to leave I thought there was no point."

"And so you lost hope and began to Hollow… Well, you've not much to go on. There are few who could help you with your memory, and only one who I can guarantee you'll find. But to reach any of them you will need far more than just your strength. I may be able to help you get started, but you must be up to the task."

The Undead woman tilted her head.

"And, of course, you shall need a name. Let's solve several of your problems at once, then. Give me your hands, please."

The Undead woman held out her hands. Quelaana placed her own hands over them and the Undead woman felt an odd power rush up her arms and flow through her. When their hands parted, Quelaana's glowed a blazing orange before fading. The Undead's hands glowed a pure blue, flickering wildly from almost invisible to nearly blinding.

"Raise your hand and aim for that leech out there, in the swamp. Then, focus your will. Pyromancy is an extension of the self. The greater your will, your purpose, your confidence, the stronger you will be."

The Undead did as she was told. A blue jet shot from her hand, but dissipated a short distance away, never reaching the leech.

"Ahh, a Fire Surge. Quite advanced for a first try. And a blue flame, as well, something rather uncommon. I would consider such heat a waste of energy in most cases, but a Fire Surge might benefit from-... I'm sorry, you must be lost. I got a bit carried away. You have great potential, but you lack control and, of course, experience. If you would like, you may stay and learn a measure of Pyromancy from me before you go on your way. I may be able to provide you with something better to wear than those rags you're in as well. And, if you give me time, a name as well."

Elation was plain on the Undead's face, despite her deformed features.

"If you don't mind my being frank, you have a naivete about you not unlike someone much younger than you are. No doubt it must come from your memory loss. With your blue Pyromancy, I'm inclined to simply call you the 'Blue Child.''Seiko,' if you will accept it."

"Sei… Ko?"

"I find Eastern names easy to cobble together, you see. They use ideas in their words. Your name will be, quite literally, 'blue child' to any Eastern travelers you meet."

"Mm-hmm, I like it."

"Seiko, it is, then. Come, we should get out of the swamp. There is a bonfire nearby that is much safer."

Quelaana stood, leading Seiko around the pillar, toward an outcropping of dirt with torches lighting it. A large insect with a fire in its belly stood on the outcropping, turning to face Quelaana as she approached. The moment it brandished its flame, spitting a stream of fire at Quelaana, she retaliated with a swift fireball. Her Pyromancy parted the flame of her enemy, flying right into its stomach. The insect glowed dimly from within and stopped moving. Quelaana continued as though there had been no interruption.

-Firelink Shrine-

Tetsuro hit the dirt on his hands and knees after being dropped by the crow. He looked around and found himself in a ruined courtyard outside a collapsed building on the side of a cliff. There was a bonfire before him, more brightly burning than the one in the Asylum, and a man in chainmail sitting nearby.

"Y-... You there…!" said Tetsuro, still cold and exhausted from the flight. It had taken a bigger toll than he'd thought.

"Ahh, another new arrival. Quite a few recently. Take your time. No need to rush. Warm yourself a bit and rest. No use meeting your inevitable death with your teeth chattering and your limbs numb."

The man laughed, but his laugh sounded pained and joyless. Tetsuro thumped to the ground by the fire, holding his hands out to the warmth.

"While you're doing that, I'll give you the same message as the others. You must be here to learn the fate of the Undead. Chasing that old legend of the bell and flame, I'm sure. Well, actually, there are two Bells of Awakening. You can reach them both from here, but it's a long journey either way. One is high above us, but no one's bothered to send the elevator down. The other is far, far below, surrounded by blight pus and rickety wooden platforms. The Undead Parish and Blighttown. Ring them both and 'something' happens."

"Have you seen a woman pass through here? She was nearly Hollow, black hair, rags?"

The man shifted as he sat, thinking. "No. Not that I recall. The last one was a few days ago, a man in leather armor. He seemed quite gullible, rushing on ahead nearly before I'd finished telling him what he needed to know."

"That must be the same one we saw escape ahead of us. But how could she not have come here?"

"Perhaps… The crow did land and rest a day or so ago after being chased by the Hellkite. In the fright, it could have dropped her. Such an accident is the only way an Undead ferried by the crow wouldn't end up here. New arrivals are always dropped in Firelink Shrine."

"Firelink Shrine? Is that this place?"

"It is."

"And how to I get to Blighttown? She must have ended up there."

"Oh, you won't be going down there just yet. All the doors down are locked."

"How do you know all this?"

"My, did you think this sort of depression my natural state?"

"So you've already tried what I'm about to? Any tips?"

The man smiled scornfully. "Be prepared to die..."

Tetsuro's Hollowed face wasn't suited for much emotion, but it could portray his lack of amusement well enough. The man laughed again.

"That's enough chatter, then. Off you go."

"Hmph." Tetsuro stood, looking around. There were Hollows shuffling around outside an aqueduct and stairs carved into the cliff. If he had to go up, that was the way to go.

"Thank you, at least, for the information. But perhaps you should try to avoid infecting others with your lack of hope. It's infuriating."

The man just sighed, speaking no more. Tetsuro drew his broadsword and took his kite shield off his back, starting his journey.

-Blighttown-

Seiko took the black robes from Quelaana, putting them on over her rags and pulling their hood over her head. Her empty sockets were nearly invisible under the shadow of the hood, much like Quelaana's face.

"Much better," said Quelaana. "Now, to the chamber above us."

Quelaana led the way to a round sewer chamber up a ramp, sliding down into the dry pit in the chamber and walking to the other side. Seiko dropped in as well.

"First, some theory. This knowledge is paramount, so listen closely and do not forget it."

Seiko nodded, intent.

"Pyromancy is, as I mentioned, an extension of the self. It has many forms, and can have surprisingly wide reaching effects. In the beginning…"

Quelaana paused a moment, her gaze drifting down a bit.

"Pardon me," she said, "But I speak of my mother, who had no fear of her power. Her flames consumed her, you see. It's a tragedy that still grips the world, and myself…"

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to bring up bad memories," said Seiko.

"It's not your fault, child. As I was saying, when Pyromancy was first being used, it was, as you might expect, centered around powerful flames in many shapes and forms. After it was spread into the world, long after the calamity that befell my mother, those who came in contact with it changed what it could do. Poisonous gases, acids, changes to one's own body, even manipulating weaker Hollows; many new techniques were birthed from Pyromancy, just as many new lives were born of the First Flame. I am versed in all manner of Pyromancy, but much of its mutations I will not teach you. Should you learn them on your own, or from some other master, so be it. What I teach is the heart of Pyromancy; that is, to fear one's own flame, to know one's own limits, and to control one's influence over the flame. I may not teach you everything Pyromancy has to offer, but the skills you will develop will apply to all of its facets."

"Are the mutations that terrible?"

"You think searing flesh from bone not terrible?"

Seiko looked horrified. "I didn't mean…"

"I know. But that is a part of what I mean by learning to fear one's own flame. Now, I will demonstrate one simple skill and one advanced skill. I want you to try and imitate them both."

Quelaana held up a hand, which glowed suddenly and lit aflame. A fireball swirled into her palm and she threw it on the ground in the center of the chamber, between herself and Seiko. The fireball struck and burst, spraying more fire in a small radius. Next, Quelaana raised her other hand, again summoning fire, and placed it on the ground. A single, bright orange pillar of flame erupted in the same spot between them.

"Now you try," she said, watching.

Seiko raised a hand, blue flames spinning in her hand, and she attempted to throw a fireball. Hers was much larger, flew off center, and exploded nearly wide enough to light her robes on fire. Quelaana watched calmly, but Seiko stumbled away from the blast, surprised.

"Try the next one," instructed Quelaana, tone level.

Seiko raised her hand, summoning her fire, and placed it on the ground. Many pillars of blue flame lanced from the ground, appearing randomly all over the chamber. Quelaana calmly stepped aside as a pillar suddenly burst from the ground where she'd been standing, then again to avoid a second pillar. When at last the pillars ceased, Seiko felt as if she'd pass out, suddenly exhausted.

"As expected, you have great power and no control. You may have stronger flames than I do, already. But all that power will only do you harm if you cannot direct it properly."

Seiko had to sit down, her breathing slow and labored.

"Can you… Use blue fire…?" said Seiko between breaths.

"Of course." Quelaana pointed an open palm into the air at an angle and a jet of blue fire swirled out in a tightly bound bar.

"I can do more than that, even." The bar of flame turned white and dazzling.

"You can tell a flame's heat by its color. What you will see from me during your training will always be low heat, to save energy and make proper demonstrations. Cooler flames are easier to control as well, something that is no doubt influencing your wild lack of it. You've already worn yourself out and we've barely begun. For now, rest. When you feel better we will continue."

-Undead Burg-

Tetsuro sat down by the first new bonfire he'd encountered. He'd fought and killed nearly twenty Hollows between where he was and Firelink, stolen an Estus Flask from one with heavier armor than the others, and had a new battle axe hanging from his back where his shield usually was. Without anywhere to put new weapons, it would have to do. He'd only rested a few minutes when he heard a rasping sound come from just outside the small stone tower he was in, on the wooden bridge connecting it to the path atop the wall he'd taken to get here. The sound had come from a strange symbol on the ground, and Tetsuro went to investigate. When he got close, the form of an Undead faded into view as if standing on the symbol. Tetsuro bent down, close to the ethereal, glowing sign. His curiosity got the best of him and he reached out to see if it was solid, since it wasn't perfectly flat. As soon as his hand touched it, a portal yawned open in place of the symbol. The warrior from the Undead Asylum rose out of the ground via the portal as a golden phantom, coming to stand in its place.

"What was that?" asked Tetsuro.

"Ahh, it's you! That was a summon sign I wrote with a soapstone I received from a fine gentleman up ahead. It allows me to cross worlds, even time, to aid those who come after me."

"So, does that mean I could receive one as well if I find this man?"

"I think so. My name is Jinta of Astora, a fledgling Knight of Sunlight. The man I mentioned is my senior, Solaire, quite the knight. After receiving his aid, I was inspired to help others, like yourself, make progress. The way ahead is home to more Hollows than you faced before, and they are better prepared to steal souls. You, uhh, also look like you could use a Bottomless Box, among other things."

Jinta leaned to the side to look at the battle axe on Tetsuro's back.

"Bottomless Box?"

"There should be a, admittedly, strange Undead nearby who will trade souls for some important items. I found him by chance while exploring, finding the other path to be… Less than agreeable. I'll show you the way, then we can move you ahead. Be warned, however, should we defeat a powerful foe I will be forced to leave your world as the balance of power shifts. There are two that I know of nearby, but we'll deal with that later. This way, then."

The phantom Jinta went down a set of stairs nearby, crossing the stone platform and heading for a different section of the complex. After crossing the connecting bridge, the two Undead were met with two Hollows with shields and spears. They engaged one each, Jinta stepping forward and kicking his opponent's shield aside and slashing it with his longsword from shoulder to hip. When it stumbled back, Jinta followed through with a stab, below the ribs. Tetsuro's opponent was a bit more aggressive, rearing back to throw all its weight into a stab with its spear. Tetsuro watched closely, then angled his shield and deflected the blow. In the opening, he stepped forward and slashed back-handed across the Hollow's neck, kicked it in the chest, then followed through with an overhead slash. Tetsuro looked over to see Jinta stepping on the other Hollow's chest to rip his sword out, using both hands.

"Why did we kill them?" asked Tetsuro, looking around.

"You should pay more attention to your surroundings."

Jinta walked over to a pile of abandoned crates and sheathed his sword, moving some of the boxes aside to reveal a staircase.

"He's just down here." Jinta went down the stairs and stood by another door on the lower floor.

"While you talk with him, I'll clear out the area a bit more," said Jinta, drawing his sword and taking his beat-up shield off his back.

Tetsuro walked through the door, looking around with his shield up. He heard wood smashing and clashing metal in the other room, signalling Jinta was doing as he'd said. There was a nearly Hollowed Undead sitting amongst odds and ends.

"Well, look at this. One who's not lost his wits. I trade for souls, for anything you see here. Don't look so shifty, come on. I'm sure there's something you'll want."

The Undead shifted where he sat, obviously having been there a long time and trying to stay comfortable.

"I was told you have a 'Bottomless Box?'" said Tetsuro.

"Oh, yeah, this old thing." The Undead stood up, walked around behind one of the crates nearby, gripping the handle on a large chest and struggling to drag it into view. He tilted it and opened it, showing a deep black interior, like staring into a dark cave.

"I won't part with it easily, mind you. You'd better have a lot of souls to trade for it."

"How does it work?"

"What? That's a stupid question. You put things in it, obviously. You can also toss it in a bonfire and pull it out later."

"From any bonfire? That's… Some magic."

"I've already got one, myself, but I found this extra sitting around nearby."

"And what's to keep me from just taking it, then?" said Tetsuro, his weapons still drawn. He was in full knight armor, with a shield. The Undead merchant was in rags and a hat.

"Well, for one thing, you'd have to rip it from my cold, dead hands. And for another, if you tried, I'd feed you some steel."

The Undead reached over his shoulder, revealing the hilt of a sword hidden under his rags.

"The rusted blade of a Hollow doesn't scare me."

"Rusted?! I'll show you rusted, you bastard!" He drew the sword, a fine katana.

"Are we gonna do business or do I need to run you through, then?!"

"A good fight's worth more to me than your trinkets and souls. Drop the chest and come at me."

The Undead did just that, flailing wildly at first to scare Tetsuro before demonstrating excellent technique with his sword. He slashed and pulled the blade slightly to facilitate slicing, but Tetsuro was able to block with his shield a few times. The Undead feigned an overextended slash that Tetsuro tried to take advantage of, only to almost have his head taken off. Tetsuro blocked with his broadsword and backed away.

"What's wrong, tough guy? In over your head?!"

"Hmph. You're a lot better than the others, I'll give you that. But now I want that sword too. And I've got other things to be doing, so unless you've got any more tricks to show me, I'll put an end to this."

"Big talk f-!"

The Undead had to cut off talking because Tetsuro had rushed him to catch him off guard. As Tetsuro stepped in with a slash, the merchant landed a deep cut through his armor at the waist. Tetsuro sagged a bit, but he was too close for the Undead to block or avoid his attacks. Three quick swings with his broadsword and the merchant fell to the stones, bleeding his life out on his rug and stolen wares. Tetsuro sheathed his broadsword and reached into a pouch on his belt for the Estus Flask he'd found earlier, taking a hearty gulp. The stored power from his rest by the fire earlier sealed his wound in an instant and he put the flask away again. He was busy rummaging through the goods before him when Jinta returned.

"What have you done?!" he said in surprise. "Why would you kill him?"

"I'm not here to be moral," said Tetsuro, not bothering to turn around, still pocketing things and inspecting others. "He obviously stole these things, and he was at least a decent swordsman, unlike most of the Undead I've met in Lordran so far. I'm here to seek battle, not legends. If I can get more out of someone by dueling them, I'd prefer to do that."

"'Not here to be moral?' Should I be watching my back, then?!"

"No. I can see you have more potential than your current state. If we duel, it won't be for a long time, yet. Besides, I didn't say I was a back-stabber, I said I seek battle. What fun would it be for me if my opponent didn't know we were fighting?"

"... I can't say I agree with that view, but at least you're not dishonorable about it. And honest."

"Thank you," said Tetsuro, holding up a hefty sack full of golden powder before pulling the tie and pocketing it as well. He stood, grabbing the handle of the Bottomless Box.

"Now," he said, "I need to drop this off at the bonfire, then we can move forward."

-Blighttown-

"Much better," said Quelaana. Seiko had finally thrown a fireball of sustainable size, the size of a fist with a burst that reached only waist height.

"See if you can do it five times in a row."

Quelaana coached and Seiko did as she was told, modifying as she went. When she tired, Quelaana taught her theory, explained the origins of several mutations of Pyromancy, and spoke of the state of the world. Seiko asked questions here and there, but was content with listening to her knowledgeable teacher. After a few days, when Seiko was more consistent with her control, Quelaana showed her to a massive wheel system that functioned like an elevator.

"You've learned quite enough from me, child. You should head for the surface this way. There shouldn't be much to worry about, but this path can lead to even worse places than Blighttown. Listen carefully."

"Of course."

"Other travelers have come down from Firelink Shrine on this wheel. It cannot be far, according to them, but you should take care to avoid anything that looks too dangerous."

"You won't come too?"

"No, child, I have my place and I have my reasons. If you don't make it, do not look for me here. You won't find me. Just rest at the bonfire and try again until you find your way to safety. Remember, you are looking for Firelink Shrine."

"I will. Thank you, Sister." Seiko stepped in suddenly, hugging the Chaos Witch.

Quelaana tensed, surprised, but gave in and patted Seiko on the back as a compromise. Before she could say anything else, Seiko jumped onto an approaching platform and was lifted away. Quelaana stood by, watching until the darkness hid Seiko from sight, then turned to go.

A/N: There weren't supposed to be many notes this time, but I just wanted to say... I'm dumb! I forgot to upload this YESTERDAY. Once a week, Fridays, was the plan. Like I said, I have chapters finished ahead of time (up to #6 is done right now), so it was supposed to be scheduled and I forgot like a doof. Sorry. I'll set an alarm so my forgetfulness doesn't get in the way again.