-Anor Londo-
After a rest and recount, Seiko and Siegmeyer crossed the bridge and made their way up the stairs. The Giant Sentinels that guarded the way at the top provided brief pause, until Siegmeyer was able to topple one into the other and finish them before they could recover. The two tested their might against the main door, and a door to the left, and found both impassible. Their only choice was to either continue to the right, where Silver Knights waited with giant bows to repel them, or to try the left. The left had a smaller gate that was closed, but simply reaching through the bars and undoing the lock solved that. A few of the demons that had carried the two to Anor Londo assailed them there, but fell quickly to Seiko's fire.
This time, the large doors they came upon were open, and inside them sat a giant seated upon a simple chair, hunched over a lump of metal he was hammering with pinpoint accuracy and precision. He appeared to be a blacksmith, barrels of various oils, racks of weapons on the walls, armor pieces strewn about, but he lacked the hearth of a blacksmith. As they stood and watched, the giant produced an ember, like the ones Andre of Astora used, and applied its power to the metal he was working.
"Well. Just look at that. Another blacksmith who employs that technique. You don't suppose one is a student to the other, do you?" asked Siegmeyer quietly.
The giant heard him and looked up from his work.
"Who are you?" he asked, simply.
"Oh, pardon me, I didn't mean to disturb you. I am Siegmeyer of Catarina. We are in search of a path to the rear of this cathedral. Would you happen to be able to point us in to the route of least resistance?"
The giant, still holding his hammer, pointed up over his head at a hallway up some stairs in the room.
"If that will be easier than those dreadful Silver Knights, then I thank you."
"You need smithing?"
The two had already started for the stairs, but Seiko paused.
"Would you be able to make armor for me?"
"Need souls for infusion. Souls power flame."
"So, if I give you souls, you can make me armor?"
The giant reached down, grabbing the red-hot metal he'd been working with his thumb and forefinger, heedless of any pain, and set it aside. He held out his hand to Seiko.
"Well," said Siegmeyer, apprehensive. "Are you sure you want to wait for him to finish? We need to catch up to your friend!"
Seiko traded the souls to the giant. She turned to Siegmeyer.
"I'll come back later for it." She turned her head back to the giant. "Is that ok?"
"I will work. Armor will wait."
"Thank you. I'll be back."
"Is… That a summon sign?" asked Seiko, pointing.
"Is what- I don't see anything."
Seiko bent down to the glowing white sign, just before the room where they'd seen Jinta and Solaire fighting in the distance. When she touched it, a phantom began to rise out of it. The figure wore an Elite Knight full helmet, a rounded Steel chestplate, and gauntlets and boots of the Black Iron knights of Balder. On his left arm was a large Iron Round shield, a huge curved sword called Murakumo in his right hand. Strapped to his hip was the Barbed Straightsword of Knight Kirk.
"Well, well…" said the familiar voice. "I'm not sure what I expected of you, but this still comes as a surprise."
"Tetsuro?!" said Seiko, recognizing him. It was the same voice, and same height, despite his features being hidden behind all the armor.
"Indeed, I am. And much more closely resembling my former glory as Weaponmaster. I see you still lack proper armor and a weapon."
"The giant blacksmith is making me some armor, but I didn't want to wait. Are you up ahead? I've been trying to catch up with you ever since you left!"
"Oh, no. I've since moved to other places, hunting great souls for the Lordvessel. And who is this?"
"I am Siegmeyer, a Knight of Catarina. You wouldn't happen to really be Weaponmaster Tetsuro, would you? He was the oddball squire-master when I left, long ago."
"You're right, I am."
"Why did you not bring your armor?! A Knight of Catarina should be proud, disciplined, and loyal!"
"You yourself called me an oddball. If I were to come here, and be the one to link the First Flame, I wanted it to be something I did on my own. I left everything behind, dueled another traveler to the death for his armor and weapons, and waited in the Asylum as a nameless knight for my time to come. In my imprisonment, I finally realized… I wasn't here to link the flame. I'm not so altruistic. I'm here for strength. Great and memorable battles are my desire. We should duel someday. I'd like to see the strength of one my senior, who held true to the code of Knights. But that's for another time. You need my help with these two, I take it?"
He nodded toward the archway to his left, meaning Ornstein and Smough.
"We haven't been in to fight them yet. We don't know what to expect, to be honest," said Seiko.
"If the knight we saw earlier wasn't you," said Siegmeyer, "Who could it have been?"
"It may have been Jinta, the other warrior from our time in the Asylum. He's fallen behind me because of his lack of attention and purpose. Honestly, I doubt he'll make it to a single great soul before he goes Hollow. I overestimated him, I think."
"Maybe I could help if I caught up to him? I'll have armor after this fight, and I've gotten much better with Pyromancy."
"I've started a bit of training with Pyromancy myself, actually. It seems you freed a Great Swamp Pyromancer while in my world and he was waiting for you. I'm not so good with throwing fire, like you are, but I'm able to use techniques taught by Carmina. Iron Flesh, Flash Sweat, and the like. Once I'm better at using them myself, I'd be glad to teach them to you in exchange for some training from you."
"I can't grasp any of it, myself," said Siegmeyer. "I know a few tales of Miracles, but Pyromancy is foreign to me. In fact, until I met Seiko, I considered it quite strange and unnatural."
"As I heard it from my teacher, it certainly can be. But all this talk aside, I'd like to get a move on. Shall we?"
Tetsuro stepped up to the archway, waiting for Seiko to enter. Siegmeyer waited for her lead as well, and the three entered the room together behind her, master of the world.
Smough saw them enter and jumped from the upstairs balcony, landing on the pristine tiled floor before three statues for Gwyn's three children. He readied his hammer, but didn't say a word. He was joined shortly by Ornstein, one of the four Knights of Gwyn.
"It still escapes me…" said Tetsuro, "How Ornstein grew to that size. Gough was a giant, and the others were certainly more than human, but… Did all those so powerful one day outgrow their mortal size?"
"Any advice?" asked Siegmeyer.
"Ornstein is extremely fast and powerful. He's not a Dragonslayer for nothing. Smough's faster than he looks, but if you stay close enough he'll have trouble bringing his strength to bear. I had help from Solaire, who brought down Ornstein while I distracted Smough, and the fight progressed… Poorly after that. Smough took control of Ornstein's power. I'd recommend you two take down Smough while I distract Ornstein instead. Smough doesn't have anything for Ornstein to take. If I hold out against him, then the three of us together should have no problem-"
Smough leaned over to Ornstein, who was pacing and watching the intruders. Whatever was said, Ornstein readied his spear and launched across the room, sliding over the tile with lightning at his feet, interrupting the conversation. Tetsuro stepped in, deflected the blow with the curve of his shield, and kicked Ornstein in the ribs with all his might. The great Knight stumbled to the side, allowing Seiko and Siegmeyer to run forward and attack Smough, himself rushing forward with his hammer at the ready.
"Face Siegmeyer of Catarina! HYAA!"
Siegmeyer yelled, rolled under Smough's opening swing, and slammed his greatsword down. The blade scraped across Smough's armor and hit the floor without leaving a scratch on the tiles. Smough hopped back, sweeping his hammer as he did. Siegmeyer put up his shield to absorb the blow, but was bowled over by the enormous mallot. Seiko appeared in Smough's line of sight just then, planting her foot in his face and knocking him over.
Perfect time to test this…! thought Seiko, raising her arm up, fingers curled into a claw. Her hand streaked down onto Smough's stomach, wreathed in flames. Her hand melted through, the flame went dark, and she jumped away. Smough wriggled on the floor for a moment until fire erupted from the breach in his armor. Muffled screaming could be heard, but Smough rocked himself to his feet, swept his hammer at Seiko, caught the long handle with both hands as it came around, and jumped to slam it down on Seiko as she came out of her dodge.
Tetsuro rolled in front of her, dropped Murakumo, and put both his hands behind his shield. Smough's hammer struck, but Tetsuro kept his footing under the force, sliding back slightly. Seiko looked over to see Siegmeyer as the one distracting Ornstein now.
"Move, you idiot!" yelled Tetsuro, kicking her away. Smough raised his hammer to strike again, Tetsuro snatched up Murakumo, and the hammer met the empty floor as Tetsuro rolled aside.
Seiko recovered, her black leather cuirass having absorbed the friendly blow, and threw a Fireball at Smough's head, then a Chaos Fireball at his feet. The first blow blinded the Executioner momentarily, but the second made the floor visibly shimmer as the magic protecting it met flames hot enough to melt boulders. Smough stumbled away from the heat, unable to do much else. As he did, Tetsuro slid his shield onto a strap on his back, turned Murakumo to be reversed in his grip, and lept at Smough, Murakumo's point aimed right at the hole in his armor, blade up. Tetsuro struck, and Murakumo bit in, but Smough still lived. He let go, dropping to the floor and drawing his Barbed straightsword.
Tetsuro readied to continue the fight until Seiko jumped up and kicked Smough again, while he was still off balance, and knocked him over once more. She put both hands on Murakumo and shoved down, burying the sword over halfway into Smough. The Executioner convulsed and died, the curved blade embedded so tightly even Seiko couldn't pull it free. As she tried, she was hit by a gold streak, toppled from where she'd stood on Smough's chest. It wasn't until she hit the ground that she registered that she'd been stabbed, just above the hip. Her whole body was numb, pins and needles like static rushing over her skin. She couldn't move a muscle.
In her place, over Smough, stood Ornstein. He hopped down next to his partner, placing a hand on Smough's armor. Smough began to evaporate into thin air, but Ornstein began to grow taller and larger by the second. Murakumo clattered to the floor, covered in blood, next to Ornstein who was now taller than a house.
"Damn it! Let me guess!" said Tetsuro, "She doesn't have an Estus Flask?!"
"I'm afraid not," said Siegmeyer. "We never came across one."
"You stay here, distract him or something! I can only interact with her, and I need to give her one."
He ran as Ornstein swept his spear across the air, lightning crackling around it. He raised the spear, readying it to stab at Tetsuro, until Siegmeyer slashed into the back of one of Ornstein's knees. The blow temporarily brought Ornstein to one knee, but he lashed out with his free hand at Siegmeyer, sending him flying into a pillar.
"Hey! Get up! Take this! And you'd better not waste it. I already put my own work into it."
He slammed down a quarter-filled Estus Flask, tinted with white as he was, ethereal.
Seiko reached for it, cringing as the motion sent waves of pain over her. As soon as he was sure she could move, Tetsuro ran to join Siegmeyer, who was busy trying to get close enough to get a hit in without being swept aside or stabbed. Ornstein stepped in and slammed his spear down flat, whipped it back up, and kicked at Siegmeyer. Tetsuro stepped under the kick and slashed over his head, into Ornstein's heel. His sword ripped into the armor, but left without a scratch, only trailing mist.
"What the- DAGH!"
Ornstein swept his foot back, sending Tetsuro sliding over the floor into the wall headfirst. Tetsuro rolled to his feet and right into Ornstein's spear. The tip of the spear took up nearly his entire torso and he was lifted into the air. Across the room, he saw Seiko drinking the Estus, which kept him from fading away. He grinned to himself in his helmet, waiting for Ornstein to fling him away… Until Ornstein ran lightning through his spear, causing Tetsuro's phantom to burst into mist and vanish.
"Young Weaponmaster! You vile fake! Seiko, it's some illusion! Some magic! That's no Knight of Gwyn! We have to disrupt it somehow! RAAAH!"
Siegmeyer hefted his sword and ran in again. Seiko sprinted in as well, much faster than Siegmeyer, lashing out with a Fire Whip as she ran, dragging the blue fire across Ornstein's form. The blue flame and white mist mixed in the air before fading, revealing Ornstein sweeping his spear at Seiko. She jumped over it, flipped, landed at an angle to kill her momentum, had to take another step for balance, and pitched a Chaos Fireball at Ornstein. She saw Ornstein start to sweep the spear back toward her while stepping back to avoid the Pyromancy, so she jumped again, flipping to the side and landing again barely off balance.
Siegmeyer continued to give chase, slashing across Ornstein's knees. The strike shifted Ornstein's stance and he fell, catching himself with his hands. He pulled a foot under himself, stepping forward and rising to his full height again, his other leg lashing out at Siegmeyer in a kick. Siegmeyer avoided the kick and slashed again, bringing Ornstein to his hands and knees again. This time, when he landed, his face was right in front of Seiko.
"NOW!" yelled Siegmeyer.
Seiko's hand, once again tensed into a claw, stabbed forward into Ornstein's helmet. White mist flew from the impact, her hand burned through, the flame went out, and she jumped away. There was a pause, then an explosion of blue flames and white mist as Ornstein was consumed from within by Seiko's Pyromancy.
Seiko stumbled when she landed from her backstep, swaying forward, and falling to her hands and knees herself. Her breathing was labored, and she wasn't alone. Siegmeyer fell back, collapsing to the floor and heaving great breaths.
"That… That was genius!" proclaimed Siegmeyer between breaths. "Terrifying! But splendid!"
Seiko looked over at him, unable to speak, and smiled as best she could before letting her head droop again and trying to recover.
Siegmeyer sat up, pushing himself to his feet. He walked over and pulled Seiko up, offering a hand for her to take.
"Now…! We must have realigned your world with that 'Jinta' fellow's. We can't sit still. Even now he could be moving even further ahead. Come on! To the elevator!"
The two shuffled forward, exhausted, to a large platform to the right that appeared built to carry Smough to the second floor. The platform rose, they stepped off, and came within sight of a bonfire.
"Oh! Thank the merciful Lords!"
The two went straight for the fire, immediately being fed energy from the flame. Seiko's new Estus Flask filled up to a quarter again as well.
"Well. You go on ahead, then. I've got exploring to do in the city before I move on. You should catch up to Jinta."
"Thank you for everything, Siegmeyer… I never would have made it here without you."
"Oh, I think you give me too much credit. You've a strong spirit. If you can find a purpose to apply yourself to, such as seeing the world like me, I think you'll find yourself to be quite resilient. It would have taken a great deal longer for you alone, but I have little doubt you'd never have made it. Now, made it in time to meet your friend and find a new goal in helping another Undead, perhaps not! That, at least, I can accept credit for. The Knights of Catarina have treated you well. I do hope you'll remember us as you go."
"Always, Siegmeyer. I appreciate your faith in me as well. I guess I could do with more of that myself, huh?"
"Weren't you the one who said Pyromancy took a strong will? Your Pyromancy is undoubtedly strong. I'm inexperienced on the subject, but I think if all Pyromancers were as powerful as you they'd have quite a different reputation in the world. I'm willing to bet you're one of the best! Prove me right, won't you? Now, go! And don't be slow!"
Seiko bowed to him and ran toward the stairs up ahead, waving back at him as she went.
Seiko went through the open doors to the last sight she expected. A giant of a woman lay across many pillows in a room softly lit with the setting sun, wrapped in white cloth.
"Ahh, Blue Child," said the woman, "I am Gywnevere, Daughter of Gwyn and Princess of Sunlight. Thou hast overcome much with the help of others, but let that not steal from thy faith. Thou are indeed an important figure, though how thy will act is yet to be seen by all. Let me grant thee purpose, fair Undead, and ease thee in thy struggle."
Seiko was in awe, but stepped forward.
"Where did Jinta go?"
"The Chosen Undead has since left to fulfill his duty, but if thee should be willing, his burden may be eased by thy action."
"Of course! Tetsuro said he was having a hard time. If I can meet with him, I'm sure we'd do better together! I'm still very foggy on the world… I don't have many memories from before the Asylum."
"Oh, child, it is not for thee to stand by the Chosen Undead's side this day. What suffering doth befall him is necessary to build him up. Allowing thee to ease his journey in such a way would only bring him pain and failure when he is needed most of all. No, thy path must be different, but yet intertwined. There are answers thy seeketh which must be discover'd as well, not so easily handed thee. My message to thee is this: Seeketh the Four Kings of New Londo, who resideth in the howling Abyss. Thou shall deliver the shard of Father Gwyn's soul, which the Kings yet hold, to the Chosen Undead. Thy faith shall be tested many times, by thy journey, thy past, and thy destination itself."
"The destination will test me? I don't understand…"
"In time it will be clear to thee. To aid thee in thy mission, by my power shall thy world and his remain connected. This is not without risk to thee, as the Chosen Undead will affect the world in ways unexpected to thee, and the shift of power may bring thee peril."
"Was I supposed to help him from the beginning? Is that why I was freed when I was?"
Gwynevere paused. How would my sister respond? thought Gwyndolin.
"The will of Lords hath long been a myst'ry. That thee find thyself here is no mistake. With thy aid shall the First Flame burn brightly once more."
Now it was Seiko who paused, her eyes lowered in thought.
"You know everything about me… Don't you?" asked Seiko.
Gwynevere smiled.
"But you want me to find out myself. And you've given me a way I can do that. And you've told me I can also help link the First Flame. Why can't I be the one to link the fire?"
"There can be but one Chosen Undead, for there is but one Lordvessel."
"But Tetsuro also rang the bells and came here, didn't he?"
"Time and space, too, waver in myst'ry."
"So there can only be one Chosen Undead in one world? I guess that makes sense. If one Chosen Undead links the fire, will it affect everyone?"
"That, child, I cannot answer. It has not come to pass since Father Gwyn enter'd the Kiln, long ago."
Seiko was disappointed with the answer, apparent by her expression. She considered her options, which weren't many. Following Gwynevere's advice was smart, as she was the daughter of a Lord, and of course there was only so much anyone could know, but there was still a doubt chewing at her. Something small was out of place, but she couldn't tell what.
"I will do as you ask, Princess," said Seiko, meeting Gwynevere's gaze again. "It's true that if I don't, I will continue to lack purpose. If I at least go along with this mission, I might be able to find purpose. I'm also tired of relying on others. Companionship is nice, but I learned from Tetsuro to not fear death so much, even if I'll die more often alone. And Siegmeyer is right too - that I should see more of the world, and use my rebirth to expand my knowledge and experience. If there's nothing else, I'll get started."
"There is naught else I can say, Blue Child. Blessing of sunlight on thy journey."
Seiko turned and walked out, still skeptical for the moment.
-New Londo-
A thick clunk sounded and the elevator started down. Seiko thought back one more time to what Siegmeyer had told her.
"The way below is near Firelink, down an elevator. I've yet to explore there myself. There are dreadful spirits, it's dark, and the legends say no one can survive the touch of the Abyss for long. It's terribly dangerous. I can't go with you if you leave now… Be careful, please…"
Seiko looked down into her gauntleted hand, at a small ring with a pink gem.
"… And take this, a token of my thanks. Good luck…"
As the elevator stopped at the bottom, Seiko was replacing her gauntlet after putting on the ring. She wore Silver Knight armor with no cape. Instead, her gold-hemmed robes acted as a cape, as she still wore the hood. The cloth bunched around her shoulders, but flowed behind her down to the middle of her thighs. She looked around, in the underground city lit only by a sliver of sunlight high above and far away, and found she could see very little. She clenched her right fist and lit it afire, holding it high to flood her surroundings in bright blue light, and stepped off the elevator…
A/N: Posting this one right away because the next one should be easy. We've finally reached one of the unchanging places in the story. Well, the events are unchanged, but the context and the style in which they're written has changed for sure. As a side note... OkameP released a new album and I only just found out. "Heart," the bonus track, as an instrumental version is definitely going to be used as inspiration for the Four Kings fight this time around.