Chapter 6:

The moment we arrived in Blighttown, the true smell of disgust overwhelmed us from the dung-coated club wielders that tried to rush us, which I sliced in half to kill them, as I knew that the smell would be overwhelmingly terrible if they happened to explode.

"This is the worst smell I've ever experienced in my lifetime..." Solaire gagged as we then got the attention of the dart blowers, which I had to grab their darts as they blew them at us with my magic and push them back to sender through their eyes, which killed them instantly! And just to be safe, I did this for every single dart blower as we trekked further downwards, needing to deal with the Hollows that could best be described as Silent Hill monsters, more dung defenders, the giant leech monster, and the fire-breathing dogs.

"This is quite a way down... and I think the smell is getting worse," Castor said in annoyance.

"That mean we close to swamp," Havel said as I looked at him with seriousness and asked a question.

"So what kind of hoops did you need to jump through to get to the Everlasting Dragon?" I asked him.

"It no easy. Need to go through roots of big tree in Swamp. Tree filled with cursed lizards. And Everlasting Dragon protected by clams and Hydra. Me able to avoid all without damage to meet Dragon... had I known actions had consequence, Havel never join them," he said, me looking at him with a smile.

"I know you feel bad and remorseful, but if it means anything, I think that makes you a strong warrior," I said, him looking at me with a small smile. "Knowing when something is wrong and that you made a mistake and can admit it is something that only the strongest and sturdiest of warriors have to their names. I made some mistakes in my past, like getting a job as an erotic entertainer instead of working for a better wage at a factory," I smiled.

"Um... what are those things?" Pollocks asked.

"Stuff from my world. Keep in mind, I was sent here because of Gwynevere and my world was extremely safe, save for a few dangers. An erotic entertainer is basically when you get paid money to dance in a sexual manner to drunk and disgusting patrons that ogle your body... and a factory is a place that creates items at a fast pace and a massive supply," I explained.

"Well... I will admit that you do look more stunning than most women I've seen in terms of body shape... it's just hard to see them when you insist on wearing those weird clothes," Solaire admitted, me blushing when he mentioned that I was still in my stupid pajamas. I did have a good excuse though.

"I've been meaning to wear this until I get cleaned up after this trip. Then, I'd change into some better armor, preferably some that can up my defenses, but not so heavy that I can't move," I smirked.

"Smart. Havel strong, so Havel wear armor made of Demon Titanite," Havel smirked as we finally got to the swamp proper, where we then met one of the ugliest beasts in the game. And when Pollocks saw it?

"OH MY GOD! KILL IT! KILL IT!" he shouted as he forced the Gargoyle body to slice into the Chaos Bug's body until it died, which I smirked at him after.

"Scared of bugs?" I asked.

"That's no bug! It's an abomination!" Pollocks said in fear.

"They are... because of the Witch of Izalith," I heard a voice say when we finally got to the poisonous swamp, me gasping as I recognized it as being from the powerful Pyromancer of Quelaana!

"Who goes there?!" Solaire asked as I then held his arm.

"At ease, Solaire... may the one who just spoke please show themselves?" I asked, the result being the woman appearing from out in front of us, her having use Hidden Body, which I was surprised by.

"I can tell by your face, young maiden, that you are not of this world. You come because of Lady Gwynevere's plan, correct?" she asked, me nodding.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"I've been spoken to by Gwynevere that you would show up eventually... and thankfully, this time, she was right. You've come very far down, but now it's time for a great test... I want you to rescue my innocent sister, Quelinde. And I wish to join your side when you do," she said as I then had the idea to look in her mind. And when I did, I saw the reason was because... she wanted to tell her and Quelaag that she was still alive and that she wanted to help them out... but she was afraid to do so without protection.

"I can help you meet your sisters again, Quelana. I just ask that you do something for me beforehand," I smiled.

"What would that be?" Quelana asked with a frown.

"I want my own Pyromancer flame," I smirked, Quelana smirking at that notion.

"I can give you one of my spares, but only if you can save my sister Quelinde and let me see her and Quelaag again," she said, me nodding as I simply had our group fly through the swamp instead of tread the dangerously venomous waters until we got to the big set of webs to the backmost part of the swamp. We then proceeded through and saw a couple different people that were huddled on the ground with giant eggsacks on their backs.

"What has happened here to cause this affliction?" Castor asked when he saw the state of the different people, me seeing some were males and others were females.

"It is because of a dreaded disease that afflicted the former residents of Blighttown, hence the name. Quelinde couldn't stand to see them suffer, so she took the sickness onto herself... and this disease is eating away at her eternal youth day by day... I can hear her cries every day I tread these waters," Quelana said with a solemn mood as we then went through a fog wall, which allowed for the big girl to arrive. I then proceeded to wear the pendant that had the ring on it and I immediately heard Quelaag speak.

"Oh? Some new food to give my sister? Don't worry, Quelinde, we can eat well tonight... please don't resist," Quelaag said as she forced her lower Chaos Bug body to rush at our group, me having us hover out of the way of her reach as I spoke to her.

"We don't intend to be food, Quelaag. We intend to save your sister and have a family reunion," I said, Quelaag looking at me angrily as she summoned her Chaos Blade and tried to grab me from afar with the blade, me shielding myself with the power of Force, which sent the sword into the ground instead.

"You are quite tricky, little witch! You cannot hope to understand me!" she said in annoyance.

"But I can understand you, Quelaag," I said, which finally made the giant bug girl look surprised.

"I-Impossible... If you can truly understand me, then answer one question. What is your intent?" she asked.

"My intent? I already told you. I want to rescue your sister from her sickness and reunite you to your sister Quelana," I said, the second bit making Quelaag gasp as she then looked at the only other woman in the group, her then shyly coming forward and letting her hood down, which made Quelaag gasp. Her hair was the same color as hers, it being a deep, burgandy red.

"Quelana?... It can't be true... I saw your remains... your brother is watching them as we speak!" Quelaag gawked at her.

"I apologize... I faked my death... I foresaw what our Mother would do and the disastrous consequences... I knew she wouldn't listen to reason, so I fled... I have felt nothing but shame and guilt since then..." Quelana said as Quelaag's Chaos underside grumbled in sorrowful noises as Quelaag leaned down and held her long fingers to her.

"I do not blame you... I'm just relieved to see you unharmed and alive... but what was the part about saving Quelinde?" Quelaag asked me, which I smiled at.

"We came from a long way to reach this place so we could give her our Humanities we've been gathering... which I think total up to 87?" I asked before I counted the lot from what we'd been getting on our journey and seeing it was more than that! "No, it's 99. Would we be able to go meet with her? Would 99 at once be enough to get her back on her feet?" I asked, Quelaag looking at me with a smile.

"I don't know... but I hope so... just know this. If you treat her unkindly or harm her, I will kill all of you and use your bodies as egg hatcheries," Quelaag said with some darkness in her voice.

"Pleasant," I said in annoyance.

"What'd she say?" Solaire asked.

"That if we did anything nasty or rude to Quelinde, she'd kill us and use our bodies to make more babies," I said.

"That's... scary..." Havel spoke for all of us.

"We don't need to worry... but I should probably disembark from the Gargoyle when we meet with her. Don't want to scare her," Pollocks said as we then went forward and Quelaag spoke for us.

"She can't see anything anymore... the disease took her eyesight 3 years ago... now she thinks everything is me, including her servants..." she said, us then going forward, but not before I did one thing, that being ringing the second and final Bell of Awakening, which Quelaag looked at me in anger for doing.

"Why did you do that?" she asked, me looking at her with confusion.

"Um... because I need to meet with Gwynevere in person? She sent me this letter and told me I had to do these things to save the First Flame... but even though saving your sister is on the list, I'd have done so even if it weren't on there," I said, Quelaag getting close to me and sniffing me, which she then smiled at before moving her long fingers against my neck.

"I can smell that you are truthful... and that you think I look sexy. I should kill you just for that, but I haven't been complimented in ages by anyone but Quelinde, so I shall accept it," she said, me laughing nervously as we then got to the bottom of the bell's area and we met the gatekeeper in Eingyi, who looked at Quelaag with annoyance.

"Oh, you again... and who are these people? More rowdy guests that wish to speak to the Fair Lady?" he asked.

"Not the time, Eingyi. They plan to try and heal Quelinde," Quelaag said, us then going past him, making sure to keep an eye out for any sneak attacks, before we then saw that, much like he promised, Kirk was there and waiting for us, currently speaking to Quelinde with his mask off, which I was surprised at how he was quite young compared to the others in my group, around the same age as I was... only his eyes were pure black and exuding shadows, most likely because of his Darkwraith status.

"You managed to tame the savage beast. Impressive," he said.

"Savage... beast?... Oh, Quelaag, don't... say such... s-silly things... nothing can... reach us here..." Quelinde said with pain in her voice, me feeling extremely sorry for the poor girl. Not even able to discern voices.

"Quelinde? We have some guests... they wish to try and heal you... I'd like to ask you to hold my hand, in case it hurts," Quelaag asked her sister, which made Quelinde smile.

"Quelaag... I hope it w-works..." she said as she held her hand out with a waver and even that seemed to make her weakened and in pain. My group and I then proceeded to share all the Humanities that we had with us with Quelinde, her body absorbing them and, with every few she got at a time, her body started to get revitalized slowly but surely. Then, when we'd given her 50, Quelinde gasped as she felt something. "Q-Quelaag... I can feel... I don't feel any pain... I still feel tired... keep it up... it may be working!" Quelinde smiled with some newfound energy, me and my group continuing to give her some Humanities as we saw that her body was starting to lose the many threads and sickly white colors that were coating it with every hunk we surrendered to her!

And then, finally, after giving her 85 different hunks of Humanity, Quelinde finally got the energy to free her body from the tethers and the wall, she lost all the sickly pigmentation, and she looked around and at me before then gasping. "I can see! I... I can finally see again!" she gasped as Solaire smirked.

"And speak English, too," Solaire smiled.

"I thank you, brave heroes! I am forever grateful for this!" Quelinde smiled as she went to me and gave me a big hug... and when she did, I sensed just a teensy bit of the disease was still in her... so, I simply cast a couple different spells on her to see if I could eradicate the disease completely. What did I use? Great Heal, Remedy, Resist Curse, and Replenishment! And after casting all of them in succession, I saw that the disease had been fully eradicated from her system, which she looked at me in confusion.

"What did you just do?" she asked.

"I still sensed a small scant bit of the disease inside of you, so I cast a bunch of healing magics to try and see if I could get rid of the rest of it... and I succeeded. There is no need to worry about getting infected with it ever again," I smiled at her.

"I... I am speechless... whatever you wish for me to do, Quelaag and I shall do it for you, my heroic knight in... um... fuzzy clothes," she said, me smirking at that.

"Well, the first thing I want is to let you see your sister Quelana," I smirked as Quelana looked at her and Quelinde smiled at her.

"Quelana... it's been over a thousand years... how are you still around?" she asked.

"She saw the future of what would happen with the Witch of Izalith trying to replicate the First Flame. She knew she couldn't convince anyone, especially the witch herself to escape, so she left on her own, leaving her old clothes behind to fake her death," I explained, Quelinde smirking.

"I'm just relieved to see you again... and what else do you want, my lovely hero?" Quelinde asked, me seeing that Quelaag looked at me in annoyance and I simply blushed.

"Well... um... I have a bit of a quest from Lady Gwynevere herself... she said that, in order to be able to save the First Flame, I'd need to trick it into a false Sacrifice. But in order to do that, I need something called Life Drain from someone I'll meet in the future before I give the control of the flame to Gwynevere... but to do that, I need something special from the witches of Chaos so that I won't get consumed by the flames," I explained.

"I have a feeling I know what we can do about that," Quelinde smirked as she then gave me something that was on her finger. It was a very weird ring that was in the shape of a flame as the gemstone and the ring being made of what looked to be fire itself! "That ring is what has kept me alive from the disease for this long. It is imbued with the powers of Chaos, from the soul of sister Quinnly, the only one to be unafflicted by the expulsion of Chaos. She forged her soul into this ring to protect me from death while I had that disease. Wear it and you will be immune to death from toxins and curses, but you will also be able to control any flames you see," she said, me gawking at that.

"Wait... so, any fire in the world can be mine to control? Even better than a Pyromancer?" I asked with shock.

"Yes. Though, be mindful of Hydras. Their water blasts are able to penetrate through the ring's defenses, and it will be unable to work if it's up against Abyssal Magics," Quelinde smiled before then looking at Kirk and smiling. "Speaking of... Kirk, the Knight of Thorns... I thank you for assisting me in my time of need. I knew you were a Darkwraith, but I could see the light that burns within... would you like to serve as my protector instead of serve under the foul serpent?" she asked, Kirk smiling as he then knelt down and presented his blade to her. She then took it and proceeded to knight him like I did to Castor and Pollocks back at the Undead Parish. "I hereby knight thee, Sir Kirk, Knight of Izalith. You shall join Quelaag and Quelana as my defenders... and my family," she said, Kirk immediately losing the shadowy eyes and gaining bright and burning red ones.

"I shall serve thee for the rest of my days, my Fair Lady Quelinde," he said with a bow and I smirked... but then, Quelinde shocked the lot of us when she picked him up and gave him a kiss on the lips, which made Quelaag surprised, but she smiled happily at that. And then, further surprising, Quelinde turned around, picked me up gently with her arms, gave me a warm hug to her nude flesh, and then kissed me on the lips for even longer, causing my face to become redder than the bonfire next to our bodies!

"U-Um... wow... i-is it hot in here?... I feel sweaty..." I said in a small daze of sorts after, wondering if what really happened just did or not.

"Mm... I do think she has chosen you as her lover," Quelaag said, me blushing deeper red at her words.

"Don't worry, I won't bite... and neither will Carlos," Quelinde smirked as the bug then gave me a small lick on my shirt, me being a bit grossed out, but also feeling honored for the gesture.

"Well... I'm very flattered... and so long as Quelaag is okay with it, I accept... but we can't stay. We have to get going to the surface," I said, the boss of the trio nodding at me with a gentle smile.

"But do come by for a visit in the future? I have faith that, if you could heal my broken body to perfect health, you can save this world and the First Flame," Quelinde smirked, me nodding at that.

"I promise... until we meet again, my darling," I smirked as I kissed her on the hand and she smiled at me with a giggle before we then finally left from where we came from... and only now was Havel's foot back to normal from a visit to the bonfire that Quelinde watched over.

"Havel feel much good now... would like to request retirement... maybe at shrine as protection?" he asked, me smirking at that.

"You wish to stay at the Shrine to protect it?" I asked, him nodding. "Then you'll be in charge of giving round-the-clock protection to its Firekeeper, Ariamas. Keeping her alive is very important, as the Firelink Shrine is what links the First Flame to every world. If it's lost, then bad things are sure to follow," I said, him nodding at me.

"Havel defend for friend!" he smirked happily at me.

"I feel I should say this now... I think that you getting kissed by her? I don't think I've seen anyone more in love with someone else in my life. Even my wife and I didn't feel that strong a connection," Castor admitted to me.

"I wish I was wearing more suitable gear when that happened... had I known she was going to kiss and hug me like that and declare her love for me, I'd prefer to be wearing more proper clothing... but I guess that now we have this place protected, we have two more stops before going to the land of Anor Londo," I smiled.

"Two? What's the second stop?" Castor asked.

"First is Firelink and second is the Darkroot Garden. We need to go there so I can get a proper wash," I smiled.

"Yeah, we could use some freshening up too, I guess," Solaire admitted.