Flynn

RL33 - 23 VIG - 12 MND - 17 END - 21 STR - 13 DEX - 9 INT - 10 FTH - 7 ARC

Resa

RL33 - 13 VIG - 13 MND - 10 END - 12 STR - 18 DEX - 9 INT - 28 FTH - 9 ARC

Resa

My resolve cracked as I was knocked backwards, stars filling my vision as the back of my head slammed into the surrounding rock wall of the castle. By the time I came back to my senses I saw Flynn charging in after me, greataxe hacking at Margit's leg as our foe's massive staff cracked against Flynn's shoulder almost certainly denting the metal from the powerful blow. As Flynn retreated Margit spun around, finally deciding that Aurelia had been enough of a nuisance. With a flurry of quick illusory daggers the poor spirit began fading away, no longer able to sustain itself in its current form.

We were making strides against Margit, to be sure, dishing out almost as well as we were receiving. However, it wasn't going as well as I had hoped - and with Aurelia now out of the picture, it could only go worse from here.

The problem for me wasn't finding openings…it was finding how to exploit them. Margit's staff had a wide range of motion and he knew precisely how to use it to his advantage, ensuring that Flynn struggled to make an approach while also making sure I couldn't come in for a flanking maneuver. The problem was similar to what Flynn had described with his fight against the Knight of the Crucible, though the solution wasn't the same. Flynn had been making great use of his resilience to force a powerful blow into Margit. I, however, had not been blessed with that same resiliency. It meant that every strike I made needed to be calculated and precise, and Margit's seemingly limitless stamina made every opening one I needed to find carefully. I'd mis-analyzed what I thought was an opening just a moment ago - and that failure meant the destruction of my bubble, as well as my head slamming into a wall.

I pulled out my seal, healing myself while Margit was distracted with Flynn, intending to save my flask for when I truly needed it. I rushed back forwards, sending a wave of lightning crackling across the ground just behind where Margit was facing. Flynn took it as a sign and made an aggressive charge forwards, getting Margit to backstep right as the lightning came down - he clearly wasn't expecting it, taking another step backwards to collect himself.

"Adequate. But how far will your ambitions take you?" Margit formed another spectral weapon in his hands - though it was far from the small thrown daggers he was using before. A giant hammer, one that would even make Flynn blush, materialized out of thin air. Effortlessly Margit leaped into the air, treating the giant hammer as if it was nothing. It felt as if time slowed down, Margit hanging at the apex of his leap for longer than could be described…and then, descended upon Flynn.

My brother attempted to block the attack with his shield, but it was like hiding behind a scroll to avoid a boulder. The hammer slammed into him and he was sent flying backwards in an ugly spiral, every corner of his body buffeted by the rock ground until he finally came to a stop.

"Hmph."

I scowled - all this time, Margit had been holding back on us…the fact that he wasn't anymore meant that we posed a serious threat, one that we needed to see through to the end. I raised my seal and healed Flynn, making sure my brother could get back in as soon as possible. I emptied my blue flask, restoring the last bit of magic that I could - I had a feeling I'd need it. For the meantime though I swapped out the seal for my dagger, and then approached.

Margit pulled out another new trick, materializing a longsword, swinging at me with his staff while following up with the longsword, and I instinctively backpedaled, avoiding the ensuing flurry of blows. I shook my head. Action over instinct. I repeated it in my head…that sword was being used to cover a vulnerable point. If I could find a way to get in, and get past it, then I could support Flynn better.

Margit reared back with his staff, forming the giant hammer with his other. As he swung the hammer forward, it appeared far less weightless than it'd seemed earlier as he soared through the air. I darted in, blinking around to the side as Margit's staff swung at my previous position. Now vulnerable I slashed three times in quick succession before backing off, Margit dematerializing the hammer and posturing to strike at me. I smirked, raising my blade. "You'll find our ambition more than adequate."

"Foolish Tarnished." Not one but three daggers were thrown in my direction followed by another three. I hung back, sidestepping both barrages. Margit intended to use the blades as a distraction as he formed his hammer, leaping into the air again. From the side I saw Flynn, greatsword and shield in hand as he crept up towards my position. I looked towards my brother and gave a tap on my left forearm, where his shield was. Flynn nodded in understanding…good. I turned my attention upwards, seeing Margit reaching the crest of his arc…he was a fool for thinking I was my brother.

Fractions of a second before Margit impacted the ground I darted forwards, dagger phasing me through space as I appeared behind him, into Flynn's waiting shield. My brother braced his feet as I slammed into the shield, coming to that same, weightless halt. With the strength that I'd come to know and respect from my brother he pushed me backwards, sending me hurtling back towards Margit.

Blade out, I caught our unaware foe in the shoulder blade, my momentum continuing to push me forwards as I arced over his shoulder, my katana carving a horrid gash up and around him until it finally broke free. I came to rest atop the massive hammer, which Margit promptly dematerialized. Action over instinct be damned, I wanted to show Margit what we were capable of.

Promptly, I felt Margit's hand grasp me, reminding me just why I'd learned this lesson…and why I'd need to keep adhering to it if I valued my life. He lifted me up and threw me to the ground, raising his cane up and sending it tip-first into my chest. My vision blacked out as I felt nothing but searing pain, which momentarily subsided as Margit raised his staff up, intending to repeat the maneuver.

Dagger still in hand I tried to dart to the side, hoping that it indeed worked that way - to my good fortune it did, and Margit's staff harmlessly impacted the ground. As my vision returned I fumbled for my flask, bringing it to my lips and downing nearly all of its contents in one needy gulp. I heard the sound of steel ringing, and I looked up to see Margit's staff clang against Flynn's shield, my brother coming in for a much-needed save. His head turned back, looking at me. "All good?"

"Yes."

"Good. Stay focused, we've got this." As if to prove his point Flynn deflected another of Margit's strikes, lunging in to swipe with his greatsword. "I'll deal with the staff, you find an opening."

I circled around to the side, waiting until a golden sword swung at me to leap over it, swiping at Margit's side and circling around to the back, slicing at his tail before leaping over that as well. I wanted to show Margit we couldn't be stopped…that he could only stand in our way for so long before he too would have to fall.

Flynn began harrying Margit with a barrage of rocks, fling after fling flying from his talisman, his greataxe loosely hanging in one hand. I frowned, continuing to circle around. What was he doing…he couldn't block like that…

Turns out…that wasn't the plan. As Margit swung his staff at Flynn my brother brought his greataxe over, catching the end of Margit's staff in the crook of his axe. He looped the axe back around, that crook now facing the ground - effectively pinning Margit's staff in place as a result. It was either retreat, drop it, or fight for control.

Margit opted to drop it, and as he did I saw my opening, clear as day. I darted forward, katana slashing once, twice, thrice in quick succession as thick streams of blood began dripping from the fresh wounds. Flynn reached for his greatsword and joined in on the assault as well, two slashes of blood arcing forward, aiding in the visceral mess Margit's right flank was becoming.

Margit tried to retaliate, conjuring an illusory dagger and hurling it at me but Flynn stepped in the way, the blade simply lodging itself in his shoulder.

"That's enough of those. Out of our way." Flynn swung again, the wounds starting to compound on each other as bones and sinew began showing.

With one more slash a gout of blood spewed from our foe, a crucial artery bursting. Margit was forced to step back, his body beginning to shimmer in a cloud of orange sparks. It wasn't too dissimilar from what Renna or Melina had done…which bothered me. That meant he was escaping, and we had no way to track him.

"I shall remember thee, Tarnished." And then…he was gone, fading away in a cloud of orange sparks. No trace of his existence except for the very real wounds we were both nursing, and the blood scattered across the floor, both his and ours.

"So that…was a test?" Flynn looked at me, and then fell to the ground. I could tell he was beat up quite badly. His armor was dented and warped in multiple places, his chestpiece so malformed it was a wonder he could still move in it. Frankly, I wasn't much better. Flynn had absolutely taken a beating, partly at my expense, but every blow from Margit had nearly knocked me unconscious on the spot - thankfully, I'd only suffered a few.

"I suppose so…and I think that means we passed."

Flynn nodded, still laying down. "That means we're going to see him again…and that he still wasn't fighting at his full strength. He could have killed both of us if he wanted to."

"But he didn't…for a reason. Let's keep going…I don't want to be out here in the event that he decides to come back." I held my hand out, hefting my brother back up to his feet. The two of us hobbled forward, up a staircase towards Stormveil's main gate. Thankfully, I saw a grace just to the right. The two of us collapsed next to it, desperate for a break.

As we tended to our wounds, I thought…why? Margit was clearly testing us, Flynn was right. The question is, why. If he defended Godrick, why not continue to repel us himself? Clearly he was able to, able to keep up with us even when we tried to trick him. So what, then. Why ensure we were fit to continue on? I didn't have an answer, and that bothered me.

After we'd both had a chance to recover I stood up, looking around. The front of the castle was slightly crumbling, the western side the pockmarked one we'd seen when we first arrived. To our front was the main gate, securely closed - but I saw three corpses of individuals who had tried to enter, and failed. Seemed it was still guarded, to the very least.

And then to the left, a doorway, leading into a small chamber. As I entered I heard a voice speaking to me, hushed. "You there. Over here."

I turned to see a gaunt and frail figure against the back wall. He wore rather simple clothes but well made. Around his neck looked to be some sort of weight, loosely decorated to look like a tree - though the item looked to be one of punishment more than reverence.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

The figure shook his head, furtively looking around. "The main gate's still heavily guarded. You'd be a fool to pass through it, though I can get you in if you'd like."

"I saw the bodies…I'd prefer not to."

"Well then take this way…the guards don't know about it yet. You'll be able to enter the castle all quiet." He raised an arm, pointing to the side wall. It had been blasted open, leading out to a small courtyard.

"I'll…keep it in mind."

At this point Flynn had followed me in, finding the gaunt figure. "We're looking for a group…perhaps known as the Chrysalids. Have you heard anything about them?"

The figure looked down for a moment, as if in thought. "There was a group brought in here a while ago, yeah…don't know their name though. What's 'emto you?"

"We're here on behalf of someone else…that's all you need to know." I could tell by his words Flynn didn't trust this person…and frankly, I wasn't sure I did either. Their position here just felt…opportunistic. "We're also here for Godrick, if you know where he is."

"Oh, you've got business with Godrick, or he's got business with you? You've got all your limbs, dontcha? Best be careful if you wanna keep 'em." he raised his left arm - and I noticed, sadly, that it was missing his hand.

Flynn's voice was cold and emotionless when he next spoke. "We're here to deal with the problem."

"Ohhh…you're the kinda Tarnished I like." The gaunt figure smiled, looking at both of us. "Well, Godrick likes to let all his lackeys do the real work…hope you're lucky, quiet, or good."

"What's with this grafting? I…I know what he's grafting, unfortunately. I just don't know…onto what?" It had been a question I held since first meeting the poor woman just outside. I wasn't sure I wanted the answer, but…we were here now, and it was better to know than not.

"Himself…damned freak's a spider at this point with all those arms he's got by now. 's the only thing he's good for…big pushover otherwise, or so I've heard."

A spider…that was when it clicked. The people, the Shattering, all of it. Godrick wanted to win…and he was going to sacrifice as many people as he had to to graft them onto himself, all in a vain attempt to win a war that had already been lost. I looked over, and only cold silence came from Flynn…I could tell he was going through the same realization.

"So if we go through this path to the side, we'll make our way into the castle?"

The figure nodded. "Eventually, sure. Might take ya a bit, but you'll get there eventually. Main gate's faster…but you'll be too full of arrows to know."

"That's fine…so long as Godrick isn't going anywhere, I'm fine to take it a bit slow. What about you, sister…fine to take the scenic route?" Flynn's tone was icy, angry. Driven.

"I'm fine…but we should still be careful. Let's go." I turned my attention back towards the figure. "Thank you for the information. We'll…do what we can to help."

"If you do find Godrick, tell 'em ol' Gostoc sends his regards…piece of shit."

"We'll keep it in mind, Gostoc." Flynn was already walking towards the hole in the wall, and I quickly followed after him…I needed to quell this if we were going to make it much further.

"Flynn, you and I both know what happens if you get like this…let's take a step back and just breathe."

Flynn continued forward, barely even acknowledging me. He pressed up against the outer wall of the castle, sliding along it towards a rocky ledge on the other side. "Resa, he's murdering people in batches for his own gain. Are you going to tell me to stop?"

I chased after him, navigating the thin pathway with relative ease. "No…I'm telling you to not rush headfirst into danger, both for your sake and mine. He's…he's a monster. But he's a dangerous monster."

"So was I. So am I." Flynn came up to the top of a ledge, taking a deep fall down to the ground below. A grace was just on the far side which he took only a moment to light up before continuing on.

I sighed…I just couldn't talk him down. "Flynn, stop."

"No." He marched forwards, onto a rickety wooden staircase built to the side of the wall. Above, I saw a guard patrolling, a long torch in its hand. Unfortunately the guard saw us…and raised a horn up, sounding the alarm.

"And this is why we needed to slow down! So much for a surprise entrance." I drew my blades, frustrated - Flynn was too headstrong for his own good.

"This just makes it a fair fight…for them." Flynn brazenly rushed forwards, swinging his greataxe to the sky as he knocked one approaching guard's shield away. A second, downward strike lopped its arm off as it crumpled to the floor. Another ran up, sword slicing forwards and cutting into Flynn's armor. My brother simply grabbed the knight and delivered a swift knee to the chest and an elbow to the shoulder, knocking the knight back until he cleaved that one in half as well. For the third, he thrust his axe into the ground, wind billowing out from around him and pushing the guard away - off the wooden platform, into the ocean far, far, far below.

I ran forward, grabbing Flynn by the blue cloth of his armor, trying to pull him back. "Flynn so help me if you do not stop this you will get us both killed, repeatedly."

He pulled off of me, but finally stopped his ceaseless charge to turn around. "And what's so bad about that? Ends justify the means…and I'm not stopping until I've fed Godrick's head to that dragon in the lake."

I closed my eyes, taking a moment just to cool off myself…we both needed it. "Because we can do that and not set off every alarm and trap between our location and his. This is a massive castle filled with who knows how many guards, and we are two people out of place and time. If we want to win we need a plan."

"I have a plan. Kill anything that moves." Flynn brushed my hand off his garb and stepped through a doorway into the castle.

I shook my head. I couldn't remember the last time he'd been this focused on something…this stubbornly determined to win no matter the cost. I chased after him, knowing full well that if he wasn't going to take care of himself, I would have to.

Inside I heard an explosion, seeing an eruption of fire from atop a staircase as Flynn was sent flying backwards, back down to the ground. He stood up, armor blackened from the detonation, only to charge back up once more. I continued my pursuit.

At the top I saw multiple barrels clearly filled to the brim with flammable oil, as well as the remains of several others. Flynn wasn't thinking… and that idiocy was going to get him killed, I felt confident. He ran up and killed a peasant throwing firebombs at us, and then another. Ahead of him was a door that he tried to open, growing frustrated over a couple seconds as he realized it was locked. Turning around, he saw another corridor that doubled back leading up, and stalked in that direction. Thankfully I had the shorter route and cut him off, standing in front of the corridor.

"Flynn, that's enough. Get your fucking emotions in check or I'm making us both leave. We get to Godrick working together, or not at all. You and I both want the same thing, Flynn…just calm down."

"Make us both leave? Dear sister…just how do you plan to do that?"

I steeled myself…knowing my next action was one I'd never be able to take back. I drew my katana from its sheath, holding the blade at full extension towards my own brother. My voice quivered as I spoke. "Flynn…I can't stand to see you like this. Please…you're better than this. Don't make me fight you. Neither of us want that…but if its the only way to turn around, I'll do what I have to."

"Resa, stop being childish. We're fixing this world…just like we fixed Lordan and Lothric. Some people just need to die…so many people need to die. Godrick just happens to be someone that deeply, deeply deserves it. I'm not going to fight you, and you know that…but either you're coming with me, or you're cleaning up the scraps."

Without stopping to think I turned the blade around…the serrated end was now only a few inches away from my chest. "If I can't stop you…then I can still stop myself. Please Flynn…you're scaring me like this. I can't help you if you're going to carry this much hatred. Godrick is evil, vile, and needs to die…and I'm telling you, I will stand by you so long as you focus on your own wellbeing too. Not this…you're better than this. I've seen it."

To my relief, Flynn put down his axe, letting it rest on the wooden floor. "You'd really do it? Try and kill yourself…just to make me slow down?"

I nodded, shakily. "I'd…I don't know. I…if I had to, I would."

"Then I'll slow down…and I suppose, offer an apology."

My sword arm wavered, struggling to hold the heavy blade aloft for this long. As he uttered those words it fell, the blade dipping into the ground. "Just like that?"

"Resa…you're all I have here. I…I know I can be headstrong, and reckless, and - "

"Stupid."

He sighed. "And…stupid, sure. And I forget that we're bound together. Either I forget, or I just disregard it. I'm getting to Godrick…that's not changing. But we can do it your way."

"That's a relief…you really were starting to scare me." I turned around, looking at the tunnel. Some more barrels were ahead, and I turned back around to Flynn. "Think you can break those? I would, but…lightning feels a little heavy-handed."

Flynn nodded, taking a few steps forward and spraying a wide swath of rocks through the air. They punctured the barrels as the oil started to leak to the ground. After it had drained out we pushed through, finding a peasant on the other side lying in wait to ambush us with a firebomb, but now was left with nothing to explode. We dispatched it and continued on, winding back around up two more sets of stairs. We'd reached the top now, the only way forward being a grated door to our right. Flynn pulled it open, taking a look inside. I followed after him, finding a very dimly lit chamber.

As we entered, I heard a rush of movement from behind us. As I turned around I saw the door closing, as well as a mechanism turning. By the time I got back to the door it was locked. "Flynn, we're trapped!"

"And we're not alone!" From the side, a gleaming metal figure came rushing towards Flynn in a gust of wind, a greatsword swinging around as it slammed into my brother. He narrowly raised his shield up in time but I could tell by the force of the swing that he couldn't take another.

The figure wielded a shield in addition to the sword, a large kite shield with a black-and-white diamond pattern, detailed filigree adorning it. As I rushed in to protect Flynn that shield batted into me, sending me toppling to the left. The knight stomped its foot into the ground, a familiar gust of wind blowing out - the same one Flynn used. This wasn't just any knight…it was a knight of Stormveil itself.

Flynn countered with a strike from his greatsword, trying but failing to get past the knight's strong defenses. Thankfully the distraction gave me the room I needed to get back up, holding up my seal as lightning spread out from the ground in a large swath, briefly illuminating the room. I saw a chest upon the far wall…and a faint glint of something closer to the door. The lightning struck down from above as it staggered the knight, letting Flynn wind up for a strike towards its knee, a heavy blow sending the knight momentarily to the floor.

I rushed in from behind, thrusting my katana forwards, finding an open back awaiting me. As my blade plunged through its chest, I felt a rush of vigor flow into me…and a warm pulse from the crimson dagger I'd picked up earlier. Odd…I'd have to keep that in mind. I retracted my blade and the knight stood up, spinning around to slash at me again.

Between the two of us, it eventually fell, though not without its difficulties. As we stood atop the fallen enemy Flynn knelt down, picking up that shield. He unstrapped his own, picking up this new one and strapping it on. It was significantly larger, covering about twice the surface area as the one he previously held. Flynn gave it an approving nod and pulled out his sword, planting it into the ground.

"Ready to move on from your initial set of gear?"

He nodded. "Yes…but also, I need to lighten the load a bit. This shield's pretty heavy, but I think I'll stick with it." He gave it a good pat, holding it up. When guarding it covered from his neck to his knees, but wasn't as wide as some of the other shields I'd seen him wearing that I felt like it would restrict his range of movement too much.

"Well I think it suits you…now help me find a way out of here. There was something closer to the door and a chest on the other side. I'll search over here." I fumbled around in the dark, trying to find the small glinting I saw earlier. Eventually after some struggling I found it - a small rusty key. "Got a key…hopefully it fits the lock."

"Why would they put a key behind the door that gets locked by it? Seems like poor planning."

"Flynn, mere minutes ago you charged head first into an explosive crate."

Across the room, I heard a sigh. "Yes…and I think we both agree that that was poor planning as well." He started walking back towards me as we approached on the door.

"Find that chest?"

"Yeah, inside was this strange talisman of a warrior holding a curved sword…not sure what to make of it, but I'll hold onto it for now." He attached the talisman to his belt, and we met back at the door. To my confusion, the door wasn't locked…I was sure I'd heard someone lock it earlier. I pushed it open, coming back out into the light of the main room, taking a peak around - nobody was around.

"Someone wanted us trapped in that room."

I nodded. "And I imagine they're quite disappointed now. If the key didn't go to that door, it probably goes to the one you were trying to open earlier." We doubled back, winding around staircases to get back to that door. Sure enough, we managed to open it, finding a ladder leading upwards, higher than we'd been before. I ascended it, leading to a dark upper hallway leading to the left and right.

To the left I saw a staircase that led up, and headed in that direction. A peasant tried to ambush me but I ducked out of the way, katana instinctively slashing defensively as I retreated in a maneuver that ended its life promptly. I continued up the staircase, leading up to a chamber, and then finally…outside.

Ahead of us was an island…the island we first woke up on. I saw the towering knight statue, the little chapel building, even the little courtyard where we'd first fallen. "We've done a lot since then…maybe doesn't feel like it, but I'm pretty happy with where we're at now."

"And this place still has so many mysteries. We still don't know anything about the Erdtree, or just what it is or does…all I know is that it's there, always above us."

"There's more to it than that, you and I both know that."

"Sure. Here's another unanswered question, now that we can see what's behind the cathedral. This side of the castle was attacked by something but…what? Nothing's out there. Just that small island."

I took a sweep of the horizon before us - for the most part, it was just that island. "There's something to the North…I think I see another castle, maybe not. It's so foggy…surprised we didn't notice all this fog back then."

"Might be a protective barrier, like your shield. Now come on…let's stop gawking and reminiscing, we need to keep moving." To our left was a wide tower, a staircase wrapping around the outside that led to its entrance. As we approached I heard the sound of metal footsteps - I could only assume another knight was nearby. I peaked my head in and glanced - yup.

In the light, I could see the knight's armor a good deal better. It wore a similar style helm as Flynn's, a small slit across the middle for sight, but unlike Flynn's the mouth guard couldn't be raised up. Atop the helmet seemed to be a dragon, though not the one in the lake…which made me even more worried that there was another dragon we'd have to worry about. Its armor was all thick metal plates, highly stylized with markings but otherwise simply made. The only exception was on its right shoulder - a small horn curved up and around, coming to a point. It vaguely reminded me of the various horns on Margit - though Margit clearly wasn't the ruler of the castle, which left me only more questions. Unlike our former foe this knight wielded a large halberd and no shield. We'd be fighting at a reach disadvantage, it seemed.

The knight patrolled the bottom of this tower in a circle, and I waited until those footsteps were growing quieter before leaping out of cover and revealing our location. The center of the tower had a large elevator shaft, though that elevator was on another floor at the moment…that meant that it opened up into a large pit, one perhaps we could exploit - but also, avoid.

The knight caught wind of our ambush long before I got there, sweeping its halberd around as a massive gust of wind flew out, sending me staggering backwards. From there it charged forwards, seemingly carried by the wind itself as it lunged at me. I darted out of the way, slashing behind it as Flynn came in from the front, the two of us managing to flank it.

However, that flank meant nothing as a wide sweep of its halberd brought forth another blast of wind, sending us both backwards as it approached on my brother, powerful blows slamming into his new shield. He weathered them better than I expected, but I still closed in from the side, hoping to distract and lay the first blow on the knight. Again, it managed to repel us, the wind roaring at its command effortlessly to ensure that the two of us couldn't fight it at the same time.

I wouldn't have it - I needed a way in. I layed down lightning in a fan, Flynn maneuvering out of the way as it came down in front of both him and the knight. The knight followed his movement, the lightning harmlessly striking the ground. I was growing frustrated - we'd managed to take the other one out without much trouble, and yet this fought much better than its predecessor.

I leaped in, skirting around the central hole - as I looked down I could see the bottom, but it was a long way down - lethal for sure. I tried to approach the knight again but was pushed back - I felt my heel press up against the border of that hole, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat as I tried to steady myself.

As the knight spun around on me, that breathing didn't come back. It stomped its foot to the ground as another blast of wind gave me that extra little push backwards. I fell back, hands flailing as I somehow managed to hold onto the ledge - but it was a loose hold at the moment. I stowed my katana so that I could grasp it with both hands, but it would be a while before I could get back up, and the knight now loomed over me menacingly, its halberd poised for another swing, another blast of wind - a long, painful fall in my future.

"Don't forget about me!" The knight's body was shaken as Flynn charged headfirst into it, weapons down as he tackled the knight to the ground, its head now hanging over the edge just near me Flynn was on top and reared back, a gauntleted fist punching the knight's chest as he raised both hands up and clasped them together, slamming them down on his helmet. "Resa, I need you to hold on tight and get out of the way."

I nodded, shuffling around to the side, not sure exactly what Flynn was going to do. My arms were burning, hands aching as I rounded one corner and then another, the knight on the opposite edge of the hole from me. I started trying to pull myself up, Flynn seemingly having a handle on the situation.

From still atop the knight Flynn reached for his greataxe, standing up quickly as he slammed that axe into the ground. The gust of wind wasn't strong - but it was enough. The knight's shoulders were pushed over the edge, then its chest - another gust sealed the deal as the knight toppled over, falling down. I couldn't stand to look down and watch, knowing that I was one sweaty palm away from an identical fate - but the two second delay from when I heard the knight slam into the ground told me everything I needed to know.

Flynn rushed around to the side, helping me. "I got you, careful." Strong hands grasped mine as he lifted me up, letting me splay out on the ground - cold, hard ground.

"After that talk about being careful and not getting yourself killed…then I'm the one that almost gets herself killed."

"Well, it was a tough opponent, and a rather small area to fight it in. What matters is you didn't die. Take a moment to collect yourself. I'll head up and scout ahead. I won't go too far."

All I could offer was a meager thumbs up, my head pounding from the adrenaline and my breaths coming in ragged heaves. Flynn walked up a wooden staircase spiraling up the tower, disappearing for a moment.

After a bit, I heard him call out. "It's safe!"

Alright…time to get up. I followed the staircase up, coming to a second level that continued up while also splitting off into a chamber to the side. I could see a lever next to the elevator shaft, and I walked over to it.

"Don't bother…I already tried, it's jammed. There's a grace this way, come on."

I followed Flynn down the side room, seeing another elevator shaft to the right. However, we turned to the left, entering a cozy chamber with a lit fireplace. At the far end was a doorway that I walked through.

Again, the first thing I noticed was the Erdtree - from this perspective it felt like it was just beyond the castle, but I knew that wasn't the case. The castle itself was sprawling and massive - a courtyard spanned the ground about two floors below us, though multiple parapets and crenelated walls showed it would be some time before we could descend that far.

I walked back towards the grace just inside, sitting down for a rest. It felt like we'd only just gotten into the castle, and already we were fighting some of our hardest challenges yet…I had to wonder just how much harder it would get. I was sure we'd find out…soon.

Word Count: 6035

Total Word Count: 53860

With my writing goal met, expect updates to slow down just a bit, especially as the holiday season approaches. I'm anticipating two more chapters in the Limgrave arc of this story which shouldn't take too long. After that…who knows what awaits the twins.