Fire Rose

by silkdreamweaver

Ruby should have died that night. She should have died, making the same mistake as her sister. Yet, she did not. Her fire, reduced to an ember in the dark, endured. And, as long as there are Embers, Ash will seek them out. Saved by the Ashes of a long forgotten age, Ruby is now left looking after an old knight, the last of his kind. The Echo of a forgotten past.

9. Glimpse of Sunlight

AN: Wow this took a lot longer than I thought it would. I would have got this out sooner in March, but the virus happened and work went to hell. Thankfully the store is classified as an essential service so I get to keep working. Hopefully all of you and your loved ones are safe. This is the longest chapter yet and I hope this was worth the wait for many of you and that you all enjoy what I came up with for this one. On a side note, I have been watching an anime called Somali and the Forest Spirit. I look at little Somali and can't help but think that Ruby was like that growing up. Very adorable show that I recommend and could hopefully provide a little joy in these hard times. Now on with the story.

---

Chapter 9: Glimpse of Sunlight

Ruby was giddy as she skipped along on her way to meet with Ashen. Why was she so happy? Yesterday was her birthday, which made her 8 years old, and she had grown a centimeter taller. Her dad threw her a small party to celebrate and Uncle Qrow even managed to make it. Thankfully, he didn't pass out in the cake like last year. It was a great day and she got presents from everyone. Everyone that is, except for one person. Maybe it was all the leftover sugar in her bloodstream from yesterday, but Ruby was feeling a bit bold today. She knew exactly what she was going to ask Ashen for.

It's already been a year since they first met and yesterday was also their anniversary. Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly one year. Depending on what day she wanted to use—the day she fell or the day he made his promise to her—there was a difference of one or two months. She decided to use her birthday to mark the occasion since it would be easier to keep track of. The extra present she would get by doing so was a nice bonus and was in no way a factor in her decision.

Ruby skipped most of the way to her meeting spot with Ashen. She didn't stop because she tried to skip down the ramp, tumbled and face planted. No one can prove that it happened. When she stepped inside of Ashen's magic, she found him waiting for her like usual.

"I am amazed that you can still be so exuberant after the tumble that you had." Ruby flinched in embarrassment. "Do you mind telling me what has you in high spirits today?"

"That's because today is a special day," she exclaimed. "Well, actually it was yesterday so we're a day late. But! It doesn't make today any less special."

"Would you share with me what occasion that would be?"

Ruby giggled. "It was our Anniversary, silly." She did a quick twirl before pointing a finger at herself. "It was also my birthday."

Ashen leaned back in surprise. "Has it truly been a year?"

"Yep," she responded with a smile.

"You have not changed a bit."

"I've gotten taller!" Ruby shouted indignantly with a pout.

Ashen found her as threatening as a newborn pup. He was tempted to say his thoughts out loud to tease her, but decided not to at the last moment.

"To think a year has already passed. Time does know how to slip away from people."

"Yep, and since it was also my birthday, you owe me a present."

"Oh?" Ashen asked, amused. "Pray, tell me what I could offer you; I do not have much of anything to give."

"Yeah, you do," she responded cheekily.

Ashen raised a brow. "I am not giving you any more gold."

"Not that." She shook her head. The thought had crossed her mind, but she would never admit to it. "I want a story."

"A story?"

She nodded. "Yep."

"And what story are you seeking from me?"

Here came the hard part that made Ruby hesitate. She didn't want to force Ashen to open up about his past, but after a year together, she still knew so little about him. All she had were little bits and pieces with no context for her to understand any of it. Uncle Qrow said that sometimes to help someone, you needed to give them a little push. At least that's what he said giving someone a kick in the rear meant. She was pretty sure that Ashen wouldn't appreciate it if she kicked him.

"I… I want you to tell me about the gold medallion I've seen you with."

The change was immediate. Ashen straightened up and the feeling of friendliness was gone. He was now guarded against her. Ruby had become adept at reading Ashen's mood that she could even guess his facial expressions thanks to all the time they spent together. Right now, she was prodding at something that she knew he held very dear to himself in the same way she held her cape. Unfortunately, if she didn't, then nothing would change and there would always be this distance between them. She just hoped that this didn't cost her their friendship.

"Why?"

A simple but very loaded question. Ashen's voice was devoid of his previous warmth. Ruby took a deep breath before she pressed forward.

"Y-You've rarely told me anything about yourself. You always keep everything to yourself, and that's not good for you. Don't you want to tell people about what you've been through? Share your stories so they aren't forgotten? I-I know I may not be the best person to talk to about the things you've been through, but I can at least listen. After all the time we spent together, I just want you to stop pushing me away. Even if it's only a little bit, I still want to help you. Don't push me away. Please?"

Rather than respond to her, Ashen turned away as he pondered what he wanted to do. An uncomfortable silence dragged out between the two. She waited and waited, but he still would not break the silence.

Ruby's heart sank. She could feel the tears gathering in her eyes as she hung her head. It looked like she might never be able to break through to him.

"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered. "Forget I ever asked. I'll—"

"Can you be at the cliffs before sunrise?"

Ruby's head snapped up in surprise. Ashen was facing her once more and the guarded hunch of his shoulders was gone. He seemed more resigned and tired than anything else.

"I do owe you quite a bit for the company you have provided me. I have rescinded our original promise, and yet, you still come to see me constantly. Even though all you can do most days is tell me about your day and watch the clouds with me. You still come just to keep me company. You are right; you have shared so much about yourself, but I have not shared anything in return." Ashen sighed. "For one like me, it is difficult to think about the past. To do so can break the mind... yet, without it, we lose what makes us human." The last part was mumbled so low Ruby almost missed it.

Ashen retrieved the medallion from a small box he kept on him. It shined under the Sun.

"It is not easy for me to explain the significance this has, not just to me, but also what it stands for as a symbol."

"Okay, but why do we have to be at the cliffs so early?"

"You will learn the answer to that if you show up on time."

As much as she hated the idea of walking up so early, she didn't want to waste the opportunity given to her. She would definitely need to set her alarm.

"I'll definitely be there," she stated.

Note to self, look up what time is sunrise later.

"Know this: I do not bother much with the beasts on cliffs unless they come down here," he cautioned. "You will need to be careful, because I will not go into the forest looking for you if something happens."

Ruby nodded. "I'll be careful."

"Make sure you do. Now—" Ashen cut himself off as he rose and drew his sword. Immediately after, the sounds of growls filled the clearing. A large pack of Grimm prowled into the clearing. "It seems that we will have to continue our conversation tomorrow morning."

He stepped in front of Ruby, breaking the Grimm's line of sight on her.

"Get going. Now."

Ruby didn't need to be told twice. She turned tail and ran as fast as she could. It was one thing for her to stay and watch him deal with a stray Grimm or two, but against a pack, she was nothing more than a liability. The last thing she wanted was to be a hindrance to him. Once she reached the top of the cliff, she couldn't help taking a peek to watch the action. Of course, she did the safe method of laying flat on her stomach before doing so.

It was a large pack that was drawn to their location. There was a mix of Beowolves and Ursai that had surrounded Ashen. If it was anyone else, she would have been concerned for their safety, but not Ashen. His sword was a streak of silver as he dispatched each of the Grimm that rushed him. Ruby couldn't suppress a squeal of excitement which was noticed by two of the closest Grimm. The two Beowolves turned and made eye contact with her. That was her cue to leave. She ducked and fled with an "Eep!"

This was not the first time the Grimm had cut one of their meetings short, but that didn't make it any less annoying when they did. At least she managed to do what she wanted to. Tomorrow was going to be a big leap in progress and she couldn't wait.

---

The following morning, Ruby was jolted awake by her alarm. To avoid waking her dad and sister, she used the alarm on her Scroll instead of her clock and planted it under her pillow to muffle the noise. The good news was that it worked; the bad news was that having it right under her head made it still sound very loud to her. She jumped up in bed, only to get tangled in her sheets and fall off. She hit the ground with a soft thud and a drawn-out "Ow."

If she wasn't awake before, she was now. With a groan, she picked herself up and got dressed. To her relief, it was still dark outside so her timing wasn't off. She left a note on the top of the stairs for her dad and sister. She would have left it on the table, but on the off chance her dad checked her room first, better to be safe than sorry. You didn't live with a very overprotective family without learning these things.

Ruby shivered when she stepped out into the crisp night air. She tried walking down the trail to the cliffs, but instead found herself rooted in place. It was a cloudy night which meant there was little moonlight to help navigate by. The shadows cast by the forest were larger and more menacing. It felt like she was walking into the belly of a giant monster.

Ruby held herself tight as she had flashbacks to that fateful night. After that night, she had never gone out after dark again. Her dad and uncle always kept the nearby Grimm population low, but when was the last time they did so? She was tempted to make a break for it, but with how dark it was, what if she ran straight into a Grimm because she couldn't see? Each step she took felt like there were bricks tied to her feet. All she had to do was reach Ashen and everything would be okay. He stayed out here all the time, so if he could do that then she could too. Slowly, but surely, she began what was suddenly a very long trek through the woods.

---

Ashen knelt in front of Summer's gravestone. He admired the hand carving that was done on the stone. It was in no way the work of a master artisan, but it was still a masterpiece of its own. He could make out uneven lines and out of place grooves from a hand that struggled to stay steady. It was the work of a man with little to no skill who struggled to get it right the first time, because it meant that much to him. He reached out and brushed some dirt free from its surface.

Once more he couldn't help but wonder just who Summer Rose was. While Ruby never hesitated to brag about her mother whenever she was brought up, there was only so much she could tell him. Ashen had seen Tai fight during some of the occasions he had spied on him as he chaperoned trainees in the forest. His style was simple and efficient. Tai never showed off or took unnecessary risks as he taught his students how to fight. From his style alone Ashen could tell that he was a fairly grounded individual. He wondered what kind of fighter his wife was. Was Tai her grounding force or was she his? Or did he ground himself out of necessity after her passing in an effort to avoid leaving his children without any parents? So many questions that may never be answered. Summer Rose was another added to the list of names of warriors he heard of, but would unfortunately never meet.

Ashen was pulled from his musings as he felt Ruby step into the outer range of his senses. A new sense he had discovered was this ability to sense life, or rather, the wisps of fire that composed life. It took longer than he cared to admit to realize that it wasn't his instinct that warned him to the presence of others. He had Ruby to thank for his discovery—she stood out to his senses like a single ember while others were pinpricks or wisps, like smoke from a freshly extinguished fire.

Ashen rose to his feet and turned to face the forest. Ruby was making slow progress toward him. No doubt she was afraid. Despite what he told her yesterday, he had made sure to clear out any nearby Grimm. The last thing he wanted to do was to endanger her life.

"I apologize for what I am about to put your daughter through," Ashen stated to the gravestone behind him.

He picked up a fist size stone from a small pile he had gathered. Ashen felt that the best way for Ruby to understand what the Sunlight Covenant represented was for her to experience, at least to a small degree, what he felt when he first found his calling to the Warriors of Sunlight. So with unerring accuracy he threw the stone.

---

The night air was filled with the sounds of insects and the occasional owl. Ruby tried to keep herself calm as she shuffled along. The last thing she wanted was to be a beacon of negativity and draw the Grimm to her. Luckily for her, everything was peaceful and it didn't seem like there were any Grimm nearby. Just as she was about to finally breathe easy, something plowed through the tree branches on her right.

Ruby jumped in the air with a shriek. Her eyes darted around anxiously as her heartbeat started thundering in her ears. She was frozen in place as she was afraid to alert whatever it was to her presence.

Don't panic. Don't panic. Don't panic.

She couldn't detect any movement. Just as she was about to slowly creep away, something shattered the branches above.

PANIC!

With another scream, she took off like a bullet. Her breathing became erratic as the path in front of her morphed into something more sinister. Shadows became claws that threatened to pluck her away, while the wind became a howl that buried itself in her ears. The branches shook violently above her, with some even snapping and falling behind her. Was it a Nevermore? Did she have a Nevermore chasing her? She needed to reach Ashen. He would protect her.

Like a beacon in the dark, she saw it, a small light floating in the sky. She pushed as much energy as she possibly could into her little legs. If it weren't for her ragged breathing, Ruby would have let out a whoop of joy as she could make out Ashen's silhouette holding a flame in his hand. Ruby collided with him, wrapping her arms around him in an effort to feel safe. Whether from fear or hysteria, tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Her breathing slowly evened out as Ashen rubbed a circle into her back and his warmth soaked into her, calming her down.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Ruby nodded before her eyes widened in remembrance of what she was running from. She ducked behind him, even going so far as to hide under his cape with only her face peeking out.

"Careful. There's a Grimm chasing me," she explained.

"There is not."

"There is! I heard it chasing—"

"That was me."

Ruby slipped out from Ashen's cape. She stared at him in shock and betrayal, her mouth gaping like a fish.

"What?" Her voice was smaller than a mouse's.

"I was the one who scared you over here. I tossed stones through the trees to make all the noise you heard."

"Why? Why would you do that?" Ruby found that the last traces of fear she felt were now morphing into something much more hot and angry. "Don't you know how scared you made me? I thought a Grimm was going to get me."

Ruby wrapped her arms around herself.

"I thought it was going to be a repeat of that night. I was— I was so scared that I wouldn't get to you in time and you're telling me that you did it on purpose. Why did you do it?"

Ashen knelt in front and put a hand on her shoulder. Unsurprisingly, she pulled away. He did not fault her for being upset.

"I wanted you to understand."

"Understand what?" Ruby asked with a cheek puffed up in a pout.

Ashen held the Sunlight medallion in front of her. "I wanted you to understand what this symbol stands for, not just to me, but to the people who see it." She gave him a skeptical look. "Tell me, what did you feel when you first saw my flame in the dark?"

Ruby hesitated. She wanted to be stubborn to get back at him, but decided not to as she did want to know what was the point of scaring her so badly. Revenge could come later.

"I was scared, but when I saw the light, your light… I wasn't afraid anymore. I felt that as long as I could reach you then I would be safe no matter what was chasing me. I knew you would protect me."

"You were hopeful that I could banish the dark away."

She nodded.

"You now know a bit of how I felt when I first awakened to my covenant."

"Covenant?"

Ashen reached out and grabbed Ruby's hand. He placed the medallion in her palm. She was surprised not only by how light it was, but also how warm to the touch it was.

"This is a Sunlight Medallion. It identifies those who are members of the Warriors of Sunlight."

"The Warriors of Sunlight?" she questioned. "I've never heard of them before."

"I would be amazed if you did," Ashen chuckled sadly as she returned his medal. "I should be the last surviving member of my order."

"Oh." Ruby awkwardly shuffled in place. "So... what's a Warrior of Sunlight? Were you once part of some legendary group of Huntsmen?"

"In a way." Ashen gestured for Ruby to follow as he walked towards the cliff. She took her spot next to him as they faced the horizon, though she made sure to be extra close to him while they stood by the ledge. "The Warriors of Sunlight is a covenant dedicated to worshiping the Sun, battling the darkness of the world and offering aid to those in need."

"Worshiping the Sun?" Ruby giggled. "That sounds silly."

"I thought so too at first. The man who introduced me to the covenant was a member himself. I was not interested at the time and saw no point in it. Shows how little I understood at the time."

"Who was he?"

Ashen sighed, wistfully as he stared up at the sky. Despite the thousands of years that had passed, he considered himself blessed that he still managed to retain some of the memories of his early centuries. So much of it was long gone.

"His name was Matheus." The name conjured up the face of a late, middle aged man from a key cornerstone of his past. He could make out the grey hair that still carried hints of its original auburn color, a short beard that covered most of his lower face, yet was unable to hide that fatherly smile of his. There was the twinkle in his eye that allowed him to see the potential in everyone, no matter their station, or what they were.

"He was a good man… No, a great man. He was the kind of man you would expect to see leading a church rather than the master swordsman he had become on the battlefield. It was during the years I was left wandering the lands after my home was destroyed that I crossed paths with him. He saved me and gave me purpose. I would have been lost if it were not for him. Matheus was my first mentor. He expanded on my training and taught me to read… he even gave me a new name since I had already forgotten my own. He called me 'Drifter' because of my penchant for wandering and inability to stay in one place for long. I owe a lot to him."

Ruby smiled. "He sounds like an amazing person."

"He was." Ashen smiled, too.

"Where was he from?"

Ashen frowned. He reached one hand up to the side of his neck. Even through his helm he could still feel it pulsing over his jugular: the Darksign.

"He was from one of the kingdoms."

"Was?"

He nodded. "Matheus was born in one of the kingdoms to a very influential family. He would have been someone of great standing one day, maybe even a legend, but..." Ashen tightened his fist so much that Ruby could hear the faint squeak of metal. "Something happened. Something happened to him that he was forced to leave his home. He was exiled in all but name." Ashen finally released his grip, the metal sighing in relief. "He did not deserve to be cast out into the wastes. Matheus was destined for great things, but he was robbed of it all, left to wander the outlands of the kingdoms like some vagabond. Something I unfortunately learned through my unnaturally long life is that when it comes to heroes, legends, and those destined for greatness, fate is far too cruel. Fate seems to despise men like Matheus... men like me."

Ruby frowned. Fate was supposed to be something that helped you or at least that's what she understood from all the stories she read. Could fate really be that cruel?

"Do you want to hear the story about the day I first awakened as a Warrior of Sunlight?"

Her eyes widened in joy as she vigorously nodded her head.

"Are you certain? It is not a pleasant story."

"I do. Besides, you promised me a story."

Ashen smiled sadly. "Very well. This happened a few years after I had parted from Matheus. We had a disagreement of ideology. Matheus wanted to help others like us while I believed that it was a waste of time and that we should focus on ourselves. Eventually, he went his own way as he tried to help those who had been abandoned, even at the risk of his own life. I lacked the heart to follow him so I left to travel from village to village in search of one that would accept someone like me and provide me shelter. Our paths would cross many times over the years. He was eventually joined by a… fire user we called Pyromancer. The man was also an Undead like myself, but he had not forgotten his name. Rather, he cast it aside after he was exiled for committing some heretical crime. It served as a fitting title to call him by. I aided the two with many endeavors over the years. One day, I was tracked down by a man named Gerhardt. He was a warrior and hunter from the north. A foreigner, who journeyed to our lands in search of a cure for… an illness that plagued him. Matheus had sent him to find me so that we may group together. We were being driven to the very outskirts of civilization where villages and towns were few and far between, so he thought it would be safer for us, at least for a time, if we gathered together. We met up by a small village where he was trying to negotiate for some supplies to aid us in our journey. It was there that I met Spearman, another Undead who Matheus had recently taken under his wing. The man was a guardsman who was the sole survivor from a town that was razed to stop the spread of… a plague. It was funny that despite him being older than me, I was more experienced with life in the wilds. He would not have lasted long were it not for Matheus' habit of looking after those who had been forsaken."

Ashen paused in his story as he took a deep breath. As grateful as he was to still have this memory, it was no less painful. Ruby took a step closer and slipped her hand in his. He gave her a reassuring squeeze in return.

"The village we had gathered at was hostile to outsiders, especially Undead like ourselves. If it were not for Matheus' way with words, they may have attacked us outright. He eventually convinced them to part with some meager rations and tools, but in exchange they wanted a service from us. There were creatures in the nearby forest and it seemed that one of them had taken to roaming outside its territory. The beast had been killing off livestock and trampling the fields, so the villagers wanted us to put an end to it. It was night and they gave us until sunrise to slay the beast, otherwise they would withdraw from our agreement. With only torches and the moonlight to guide us, our band of five set off toward the forest…"

---

"Must we really be doing this?"

"We have no choice, we need the supplies. If anything, we should consider ourselves blessed that the village is even willing to deal with Undead like ourselves," Drifter explained as he watched Spearman from the corner of his eye. The man was twitchy, his eyes constantly darting around at the slightest sound. There were wrinkles on his face that belonged to a much, much older man. From what Matheus had told him, Spearman had recently become Undead, a few months at the most. To see advanced signs of hollowing so soon in him was concerning. He would have to talk to Matheus about parting ways with him before he could hollow completely. The last thing he wanted was for any of them to get stabbed in the back when he inevitably lost himself.

"None of us will last long out here without them," Gerhardt chimed in. Despite having already spent days traveling with the man, Drifter still found his northern accent odd to hear.

"But we do not need to eat," Spearman pointed out.

"Aye, but we still need to maintain our equipment." He stroked his long beard in thought. "Have to admit that without a blacksmith to aid us there is not much we can do."

Drifter had to agree with him. Out of the five of them, only Gerhardt and Matheus wore full suits of armor. All he had was a metal chest-plate and leather gloves. He had wrapped scraps of toughened leather around his limbs, but they barely provided any protection. At least the short sword he had salvaged off a brigand's corpse was still in decent shape despite the visible nicks along the blade.

Gerhardt's iron armor was at its limit. It was covered in chips, dents, and cracks to the point that it was a miracle in and of itself that it had yet to fall apart. His great axe was in a similar state.

Spearman on the other hand had no armor of any kind, only a helmet and a large wooden shield to protect himself. At least the spear he carried was of good quality. More than once Drifter wondered how exactly he had come across it. Honestly, it wouldn't have surprised him if Matheus was the one to have given it to him.

"The rations I bartered for will help pay for the services of one." Matheus spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to him.

Out of everyone here, he was the best equipped. Gold embroidery danced along silver plates that covered him completely, though the shine from both had long since faded. All he was missing was the helmet that he traded away years ago as a bribe for safe passage. Drifter felt a pang of guilt at the memory. Had he kept his mouth shut then they wouldn't have been discovered and cost Matheus his father's helmet.

"I came across a blacksmith who would be willing to service an Undead, his services will not be cheap."

"Are you certain about that?" Gerhardt questioned. "He could easily be baiting us into a trap for the church hunters to find. I have died enough times as it is and have no desire to do so again."

"The Way of White's power has been waning. Originally there would be no safe place for an Undead to hide, but now some of these villages on the outskirts are willing to put their own survival over their faith."

"Does not stop the church from sending bands of their hunters out here," Drifter commented.

"Trust me when I say we are very fortunate. There are still plenty of kingdoms where the Church's power is so strong that no one would dare offer aid of any kind to an Undead. They would be more inclined to strike you down where you stand the moment they lay eyes on you."

"Reminds me of home," Gerhardt muttered. He called over his shoulder, "What about you, Pyromancer? You have been oddly silent for some time now. Why not join our conversation? Or have you suddenly turned mute on us?"

Drifter was surprised when he noticed how far Pyromancer had fallen behind them. His form was barely lit by the flame in his hand. Rags covered his form, head to toe, making him look decrepit, but underneath all those rags, he knew, was a full set of leather armor and a number of daggers. Those rags also hid the Darksign that marred his face, leaving only a single eye visible. From the years he had spent with him, he knew that Pyromancer was a thoughtful and quiet person. Usually, he would have joined in the conversation by now. He noticed how Pyromancer would not stop rubbing his wrist.

"Is something wrong, old friend?" Matheus stepped past them. "You have grown more and more distracted these past months. Does something ail you? Is the curse acting up?"

Pyromancer jerked in surprise. "W-What? No, it is nothing. I am fine, I swear." His flame brightened in his hand, casting a stronger illumination than any of their torches could. He always had a raspy voice, but it sounded worse than usual.

"Please, old friend; if I can aid you, allow me to do so. You can trust me." Matheus gestured at his arm."Show me what is wrong with your wrist."

It was hard to deny Matheus. With his tone of voice and the aura he exuded, it was confounding that he didn't become a priest, or at the very least, a cleric. After a moment of hesitation, Pyromancer relented. The others gathered around as Matheus undid the wrappings on his arm. When the final wrapping came undone, it revealed pale skin covered with swollen and pulsing black veins.

"What in the gods' name is that?!" Spearman stumbled back in fear.

"Pyromancer," Matheus whispered in horror. "What have you done?"

"I told you when we first met; I was exiled from my home for dabbling in things I shouldn't have," Pyromancer said while laughing hysterically.

"You were playing with black magic." It wasn't so much an accusation as it was a statement from Gerhardt.

"I thought you were exiled for meddling with Chaos."

Pyromancer closed his eye as he smiled weakly under his wraps."I never said chaos; only that it was forbidden."

"What is happening to him?" Spearman asked, panicked. "Is he going to go Hollow? Is he going to turn into a monster? Surely we are not going to keep travelling with him?!" With each question, Spearman kept raising his voice louder and louder.

Drifter stepped over to him before grabbing him by the shoulder and yanking him close to hiss into his ear, "Shut your mouth and be quiet!"

He shoved him back before turning to Matheus. "What are we going to do now?"

"We deal with the beast," he answered. "Pyromancer, I want you to wait for us back at the village. The rest of us will—"

"Matheus," Pyromancer interrupted, "I know what you are trying to do. I appreciate the gesture but it's pointless."

"Nonsense. Once we are done here, we can find someone to treat you. With how far in the outskirts we are, it should be easier to find a witch who may know what to do."

Spearman inhaled sharply. Drifter gave him a warning look as he rested his hand on the pommel of his sword. After a brief moment, Spearman turned away.

"I've already tried," he explained. "Soon after I first noticed the signs, I used a purging stone and it did nothing. This isn't hollowing, this is something else, something worse."

"That does not mean we can not do something about it. I am certain—"

"Matheus! Matheus, please. There is nothing anyone can do for me anymore. I-I can feel it inside me… squirming around… It burns so bad, and yet… it feels so cold. I can hear… whispering, clawing through my head. I tried… I tried so hard to keep it at bay, but I no longer can. It will surge soon and I feel… that I won't survive it."

"Pyromancer."

"It is why I wanted to join you on one last quest. My life was never worth much. At least I can make my death mean something, even if it's for a people that would never thank me for it. Regardless of how everything turns out… I know I am not coming back from that forest. This is the end for me, so let me face it on my terms."

"Fair enough." Everyone turned toward Gerhardt who had been observing in silence. "I can respect a man who is willing to face his end head on, but from here on you have to take point. Whatever is waiting for us, you will have to face it first. At the very least you will serve as a good enough distraction for the rest of us."

"Gerhardt," Matheus warned. Drifter stepped up next to him.

"Look, I may owe you for saving my life from the church hunters, but that doesn't mean that I will just trust whatever decision you make. I have not known him as long as you, therefore I can not trust my back to someone who could lose themselves at any moment. I have died enough times as it is."

"I will do it." Matheus turned to Pyromancer in surprise.

"Are you sure?"

"He has made his decision," Gerhardt cut in. "Let the man choose his own fate. It is a rare blessing that few are granted."

"And what about you two? Do either of you have something to say?"

Spearman shifted uncomfortably. Though he remained quiet, it was obvious from his body language alone who he was siding with. As much as Drifter hated to do so, he had to agree with Gerhardt.

"Let him take point," he said as he backed away from him. "There is nothing else we can do for him."

Pyromancer reached out to grasp Matheus' shoulder. "My journey would have ended long ago if not for you. I am forever grateful for the faith you placed in an exile such as I, but it is time for my journey to end, like all good journeys must."

Matheus gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, a silent conversation passing between the two before he released him. Reigniting his flame, Pyromancer stepped past him with everyone falling in behind him.

Eventually, the group reached the edge where the forest began.

"It seems that the village head withheld some important information," Pyromancer stated as the group found themselves standing at the top of a steep hill as the forest that they were supposed to search sat deep at the bottom of a sunken valley. The trees were so tall that they cast an illusion of normalcy from a distance.

"Gods, look at the canopy," Spearman pointed out. "The leaves are so thick that you are unable to see the ground floor. It must be pitch black down there. How are we supposed to navigate through that?"

"We will have to trust our torches and Pyromancer's light to see us through." Matheus drew the greatsword that was strapped to his back. Unlike his armor, the sword still shined beautifully as if it was recently forged. Gold embroidery was entwined with silver steel as veins of Titanite danced across its surface. "We are short of time."

"Wait," Pyromancer said as he raised his hand in the air. "Do you smell that?"

"There is a faint smell of something sweet… and pungent in the air," Gerhardt spoke up. "Is that rot? Something is not right with this place."

Pyromancer kneeled on the ground and grabbed a handful of dirt. He squeezed until a thin stream of discolored water poured out.

"It has not rained for days, yet the ground is soaked," he examined. "For the land to be expelling water to such a degree and the smell, I believe this forest is becoming blighted."

"Blighted? Are you saying this place is poisoned?" Spearman questioned.

"No. Or at least not yet. If this forest was blighted, then we would have been able to smell the rot from father away. At most, I would say, we should be cautious as there may be pockets of the forest that have rotted and will be dangerous if we attempt to cut through."

"There has to be another way. What if we wait for daylight?"

"We have until daylight to kill the beast," Mathus explained. "That was the provision the village head gave us that we must fulfill, otherwise they will not trade with us."

"How the hell are we supposed to find this beast in the dark, much less fight it? And that is if we don't poison ourselves navigating this forest. They are sending us to die. Surely you all see this."

"Of course they are. We are Undead, or have you forgotten?" Drifter was growing tired of Spearman's complaining. He did not know what Matheus saw in this man. Spearman was a lost cause and should have been left to the fate of the curse. "They do not give a shit about the likes of us. What we should be concerned with is ensuring that they keep their end of the bargain after we complete their task."

"This is an impossible task. Maybe we don't have to do it. I mean, they are just villagers. Between the five of us we could simply—"

Spearman was cut off as Gerhardt jabbed him in the chest with the head of his ax.

"Don't you fucking dare finish that sentence!" he roared. "We may be cursed, but we still have our pride and honor as men. If such concepts are so foreign to a man like you, then you are no different from the monsters that roam the wilds, and I will cut you down here and now."

"Enough!" Matheus stepped between the two, separating them. He shot Drifter a chastising look as he stepped away from behind Spearman and sheathed his sword. "We can not be fighting amongst ourselves. Gerhardt is right, though. Attacking and stealing from those people would make us no better than the monsters they believe us to be. I understand you are afraid. We all are. No one here wants to go Hollow. It is a fate worse than death. None of us will survive on our own. We must rely on ourselves and each other if we want to avoid such a fate. The curse will not last forever. If we endure until the Flame is strengthened once more, then we will be free and able to return to our homes."

"H-How do you know? How can you be so certain that this curse will go away?"

"Before I was exiled, my family kept close ties to The Way of White. That relationship granted me access to certain records of the order. This is not the first time the curse has appeared, but each time that it has, it was eventually defeated and the cursed set free by a champion. Even if we do not find a way to undo the curse ourselves, it is only a matter of time before it is beaten back once more." Matheus extended a hand toward Spearman. "We can overcome this, but only if we stand together. You will not be facing this alone. You will have brothers who will stand beside you. The only question I have for you is if you are willing to do the same."

Spearman looked at his hand hesitantly before clasping it. "I-I will. I don't want to give up, not yet."

Matheus glanced to Gerhardt, his gaze asking the same question. He rolled his eyes.

"I am here, am I not? Just never let me hear you utter such words again," he said as he slung his ax over his shoulder. "I expect more from a town guardsman."

Spearman nodded in understanding. "I will do better. So, I guess we really are doing this. Well, what are we waiting for?"

Pyromancer chuckled. "A way with words like always, Matheus. Is everyone ready to head down?" He received a series of nods. "Stay close and keep a good grip on your torches. I suspect the bottom will be flooded, so watch your step."

As Pyromancer led the group down into the forest, Matheus hung back to walk in step with Drifter.

"Save it. I know what you are going to say."

"I am not trying to start a fight, I only wanted to share some words of wisdom my father once shared with me; Humanity is only as strong as the weakest burden it carries on its back."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Matheus gave him a sad smile. "Our strength is measured not by the obstacles we overcome, but by the burdens we carry while doing so. I know you are afraid, but if you keep trying to sever ties the moment you feel they are a burden to you, then you will find yourself alone with nowhere to go in the world."

Drifter touched the mark on his throat. "I am pretty sure your father did not have to face an impossible task such as this."

"There is no such thing as an impossible task, only a highly difficult one." He reached out and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking ahead to take position behind Pyromancer.

The forest was in worse shape than they initially thought. At a passing glance, everything seemed normal, but upon closer inspection, one could easily spot the mold and rot that was setting into the trees. As Pyromancer predicted, the ground was absolutely soaked with water. More than once did one of them step in a puddle only to be surprised by a hole hiding underneath. Gerhardt had become particularly foul-mouthed after suffering a tumble that left him drenched. Drifter didn't doubt that before long this forest would transform into a swamp, a blighted one at that.

He had to adjust his grip on his torch as he stumbled once again. As expected, the forest canopy was blocking out what little moonlight they could have used to aid them. Without their torches and Pyromancer's light, the group would have been trapped in abject darkness. The only noise was the splashing of their footsteps; the lack of other sounds was bothering him more than he cared to admit. The deeper they traveled into the forest, the greater his sense of foreboding was becoming.

"Anyone else feeling that we have been played for fools?" Gerhardt asked.

"What do you mean?" Spearman questioned. "We have yet to encounter anything."

"And don't you find that strange? The villagers claimed that this forest was infested with all sorts of monsters." He gestured around them with his axe. "Well, where are all these so-called monsters?"

"Are you actually disappointed that we are not fighting for our lives right now?" Spearman asked incredulously.

"You would not understand. You are used to fighting on walls where you have the advantage. I prefer a straightforward fight. Before I was cursed and forced from my homeland, my family was known for the many beasts we had slain."

"Did any of you manage to slay a dragon?" Drifter asked.

"Ha! Not yet, but just you wait. Once I am free from this curse, I intend to travel North of my homeland. There are rumors that some still roam there and I intend to add one to our name. I will be welcomed back as a hero. Let me tell you two right now, there is nothing like the timeless clash between man and beast. The thrill of the hunt, that moment when you prove man's superiority over the raw savagery of nature—there is nothing quite like that feeling."

"Careful," Matheus chided. "Pride comes before the fall. Dragons are not some simple beast that any man can slay. You have a long way to go before you will be ready to challenge such a foe. If you are too reckless, you may end up losing yourself before you can get the chance to do so."

Gerhardt rolled his eyes. "Shove off, old man. Do not lecture me like I am the boy or the greenhorn. I have been in more battles than the two put together. I have no intention of ever falling to a simple-minded beast."

"As if that was not made clear to me before," Drifter commented dryly. "If I had not been there to stop you, you would have fought every living creature we had come across during our journey here."

Spearman snorted in amusement. "Were it not for the fact that we are ungodly blights on the world, I would think that being Undead would be a boon for you. You could hunt down any beast, no matter how dangerous. If you die, then you can just try again. Those dragons will not stand a chance."

"I told you before. Undead or not, I still have my pride. I will be damned before I let a mere animal or abomination get the best of me. What would be the point of beating it once, if it killed me a hundred times in turn? No, I will not accept defeat from any beast regardless that I am now Undead."

"Then don't underestimate them," Pyromancer spoke up. "Animals and beasts can prove to be much more clever than you would expect—dragons especially. Underestimate them at your own peril."

"Oh? And what would you know?"

"My former master and his tribe of pyromancers live in the rocky landscape by a volcano. The land is harsh and so too is the wildlife that takes up residence there. Rivers of lava flowed just under the surface, so you had to watch your step or that would be it for you. The ground would thin at places to the point where the weight of your foot would be enough to punch through the rock straight into the molten lava underneath. Anything that desired to live there had to adapt quickly, something all the wildlife had done."

"What kind did you have? Anything interesting?"

"Nothing you could take home and brag about," he chuckled. "The most notable creatures we had were a unique breed of cow-sized goats that would occasionally eat men, and giant stone lizards."

"Bah, those things do not sound so difficult to deal with."

"But they are clever," he emphasized. "Every creature that I have seen inhabiting that place has a good sense of the land. They know where the ground is weak and where the pitfalls lie. It made hunting difficult as many of the animals would purposely try and lead us into such traps. I have seen men get careless and pay for it. The lucky ones would lose a leg at most. As for the others, well, it is not like lava leaves anything to be buried."

Gerhardt mulled his words over with a doubtful expression on his face. "Alright, I will admit some creatures can grow crafty as they age, but those are only the survivors that manage to live so long."

Drifter could see Matheus shake his head.

"Most will rely on nothing but their base instincts, even in their old age. Besides, you speak as if they can think like us."

"I take it that you have never met a dog before."

Gerhardt snorted. "You can train a dog to be smart, otherwise they are simple mutts."

Pyromancer sighed in disappointment. "Let it not be said that I did not warn you. One day your—" He froze before drawing one of his daggers. "There is something ahead."

In an instant, everyone readied their weapons and scanned the shadows for the slightest movement. Matheus stepped up next to him.

"Can you see it?"

"Not really. Wait. Look," he pointed, "right there in that pool of water."

Slowly, the group approached, their torches peeling away the shadows. The floor gave way to a shallow pond that spread out into the darkness. Resting in the water in front of them was a large, black boulder.

"That is a rock," Spearman stated.

"No. I can sense something from it. Whatever it is, it is alive."

Before anyone could say anything else, Gerhardt, with a mighty heave, threw his great axe at it. The "boulder" exploded in a shower of green blood and fragments of a black carapace. A pair of pincers briefly burst from the water before sinking under.

"Well, I guess you were right," he quipped. He stepped forward to retrieve his ax when Matheus stopped him.

"Allow me. There may be others in the water and you will be vulnerable without your weapon." Gerhardt snorted before he took a step back.

The group waited with bated breath as Matheus wadded into the water to retrieve the axe. Drifter leaned forward as his eyes scanned the water's surface for the slightest ripple. The water was thick and murky, making it impossible to see if something was hiding underneath the surface. Thankfully, Matheus managed to yank Gerhardt's axe free and return without incident.

"I believe we found your missing beasts."

"Giant insects," Gerhardt stated. "Well, at least they are better than nothing."

Drifter took a deep breath as he tightened his grip on his sword. "We have to deal with a forest filled with these things and hunt down the village monster. Great, as if things could not get more difficult."

"I believe our situation is much worse," Spearman spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"Before Redwood fell, I would occasionally be stationed at the gates. There, I would strike up conversations with the guardsmen of various caravans. I learned a few things from the encounters they had talked about. There are more than a few places where you can encounter giant insects and other abominations around these parts. They have been showing up more frequently around these parts as the corruption of the Undead spreads. If we are in a forest infested with giant insects and we have not been attacked, not even once, then that means there is something here. Something so fearsome it has cowed them Into hiding."

"They are hiding because the damn thing is out there stalking us," Gerhardt growled. He brandished his axe as he called out into the darkness, "Come out, coward. We know you are out there. Save us the trouble and bring us your head."

"I doubt the beast can even understand you. Hell, are you sure you are not yelling into the wind?" Drifter asked.

Everyone turned as they heard the sound of a wet smack followed by a large object splashing toward them. An oblong shape rolled into the edge of their vision. From the many legs they could make out clawing at the air as it attempted to right itself, it was another insect the size of a large dog. Drifter, being the closest to it, took a step forward in an attempt to shine a little more light on it.

"Did it try to throw a bug at us?"

"I told you it was here."

"Still think the beast is simple minded?"

"Enough. Ready yourselves."

Spearman stabbed his torch in the body of a nearby tree to wield his shield, with Gerhardt and Mathus following suit. The rotting wood gave way with little effort and provided decent holds which granted them a small lit area to fight in. The group formed a loose circle as they scanned the shadows for the slightest trace of their prey. The only sounds they could hear were the chittering of the insect it threw at them.

The insect in question managed to right itself on its feet. Even with the distance and low amount of light between them, Drifter could make out its red eyes as it stared at his group. After a brief moment, it shuffled in place until its back was facing them. After a small click, the back of its carapace opened up exposing… fur?

"Drifter, get down!"

After the many years fighting by his side, Drifter had learned to trust Matheus' instincts far more than his own. He dove to the side as thin white spines whistled through the air where he was standing. There were exclamations of surprise before a fireball sailed through the air and engulfed the insect in flames. It thrashed in place momentarily before slumping to the ground, dead. The body whistled as steam from its boiled innards escaped its shell.

Spearman helped Drifter to his feet. "Are you alright? Did it get you?"

"It missed me. Thanks for the hand."

"Ready yourselves," Pyromancer called out. "The beast approaches."

They could hear something plod through the water towards them. It was slow. For a moment that felt like it was dragging on for hours, the only noise in the air was the crackling of torches, the heavy breathing of five warriors and the wet treading of footsteps. Soon, those footsteps were joined by a low growl as a dark shape formed on the periphery of their vision.

First to form from the shadow was a long muzzle with oversized dagger-like teeth. A pair of sunken and sickly looking yellow eyes rested atop the muzzle. Long, thick strand-like hair lay matted to its body by filth and water. The forward body was bulky and muscular, only to noticeably shrink and become scrawny at its hindquarters. And the smell. Gods, it smelled like a rotting corpse. Honestly, the closest comparison to any known animal Drifter could make was some sort of demented crossbreed of a wolf and a bear; it definitely had the size of the latter. There was no doubt the blight setting into this forest had also affected this creature, mutating it from whatever it once was.

"You finally show yourself," Gerhardt said with a smile. "I was hoping you would be bigger, but no matter. I will claim your head all the same."

In response to his challenge, the Beast roared out in defiance. Drifter flinched back in surprise. The roar transformed into a high pitched shriek that pierced the ears. From the water besides Matheus, a man-sized centipede burst from the surface and thrashed in the air. With a single swing of his sword, he bisected it.

"The beast is throwing the nearby insects into a frenzy," Pyromancer exclaimed. Drifter barely managed to hear him through the ringing in his ears. "We need to kill it before it brings the entire forest down on our heads."

"We need to bait it out of the water."

"Leave that to me." Gerhardt charged forward with a roar of his own.

The beast lunged forward to meet him with a swing of its paw. He froze mid-charge, allowing the swipe to go wide; claws barely missed him before he swung out and carved a deep gash down its forearm. It cried out in pain before lunging forward, jaws clamping shut on thin air as it missed once more. Gerhardt kept baiting it forward with short back steps that left him just barely out of range of its swipes and snapping jaws. Throughout it all, Gerhardt wore a feral grin on his face as he courted death in a dance as old as time itself.

Sickly yellow eyes had been so focused on the prey in front of it, that it was only when it felt twin burning sensations from its sides did it realize its mistake. Drifter and Matheus dodged back, avoiding its retaliation. Spearman struck at the creature from behind, his spear piercing through its knee and stumbling the beast. Before it could turn and lash out at him, a fireball burst against its head, setting its fur alight. The beast howled in pain as it thrashed around violently, forcing the group to back away.

"You know, I was hoping for more of a challenge," Gerhardt commented as he looked to Pyromancer. "Looks like you will have to find somewhere else to die."

"Focus," Matheus chided. "We have the beast cornered. I should not need to tell you what happens when you corner an animal."

"I think we got more company," Spearman spoke up.

"Shit." Drifter could see a swarm of insects encroaching on their position from behind.

"They sense an easy kill," Pyromancer explained, his eyes never leaving the beast's in front of him. He could see the intelligence hiding behind its malice. It was going to try to bide its time. Time he did not have, not when the burning in his veins was getting worse. "Those are just the impatient ones. Once this beast is dead, the rest will have nothing to fear and try to overrun us. We have to finish this quickly before any more come."

"Drifter, Spearman, cover our backs," Matheus ordered. "The three of us can finish this thing off by ourselves."

"Alright. Spearman, take the right, I will handle the left."

"Got it."

Drifter held his torch out as a shield in front of him while the two of them confronted the swarm. There had to be somewhere between two or three dozen of the insects. Each was around the size of a dog and varied from ant and beetle-like to strange variations he could obviously tell were not natural. He would be lying if he said that all the chittering wasn't sending chills down his spine. The sooner they got out of this forest, the better. The swarm was slow to approach. If there were fewer of them, it would be easier to scatter them by just slaying a few.

"Hold the line. We have no room to fall back unless we want to endanger the others"

"I know that. I may have been a simple guard, but I know what to do during a fight."

Any further conversation was cut as the first group of insects charged them. Drifter thrusted his torch at the lead most insect, a large beetle-shaped one. It abandoned its charge and snapped its pincers at him angrily. He responded by stabbing it through its eye. Surprisingly, the shell was softer than Drifter expected—he ended up splitting its skull with the blow, killing it. There was the sound of dull impacts on wood next to him quickly followed by the splitting of chitin.

"Their shells are not as hard as I would expect," Spearman spoke up. "I guess not even bugs are safe from the rot."

"Then we have no excuse to not finish this quickly."

When the next insect charged him, instead of aiming for a weak point on its body, he swung out at its core. There was a moment of slight resilience before his sword split the bug open like a rotten fruit. Drifter couldn't help the smile that appeared on his the swarm was still a threat that could overwhelm them if they got careless, now it felt so much more manageable. It was unlikely now that this fight would get dragged out, even as more trickled in. Soon they would be able to return and help the others.

The two went to work culling the swarm and staining the ground with their multi-colored blood. At one point, one of the smaller insects went for Drifter's leg. He managed to dodge it before putting his foot through its head. Spearman huddled behind his shield to hold the bulwark back while he lashed out with his spear, occasionally using it like an oversized club and crippling those unfortunate to be hit by it. More than once did something latch on to his spear and he had to wrestle with it. A quick introduction to his boot would be enough to solve the problem.

Throughout their fighting, Drifter kept some focus on the fight occuring behind them. The air was filled with the smell of burning fur. He could make out the tearing of flesh and howls of pain, punctuated by taunts from Gerhardt. From the sounds of it, the fight was going their way. At this rate, it seemed that all of them would be leaving this forest alive.

"Pyromancer!"

Drifter attempted to turn at Matheus' cry before something crashed into him and knocked him to the ground. His torch slipped from his grip and rolled away. With a curse, Spearman ran over and took up position over them. He kicked the torch toward the swarm, forcing them to split and back away.

"Get up and check on your friend. I will do what I can to hold off what remains of these bugs." Spearman charged into the remnants of the swarm. While they had reduced their numbers to a mere dozen, there were more gathering to replace the fallen. He lashed out with his spear in large arcs, angering the insects and forcing all their attention on him. "I am probably going to die here," he muttered as another swarm crawled out of the darkness to join the first. Surprisingly, he found a sort of peace in these words. With a fervor he did not know himself capable of, he charged the largest insect, skewering it on his spear before chucking its corpse at its brethren. Whatever he couldn't skewer with his spear, he bashed to a pulp with his shield. He lashed out viciously with no sense of self-preservation. Despite everything that had happened in his life, all the failures and let downs, he found fulfillment in this small moment. It may have only been against insects, yet Spearman found himself living out an old, nearly forgotten childhood dream of his. And with that sense of fulfillment, he had never felt more alive.

With Spearman holding the swarm back, Drifter was able to rise to his feet. To his horror, he found that the object that had knocked him over was Pyromancer. Three deep gashes were carved into his torso. He didn't know which was worse, his injuries or the pitch-black ichor that he was coughing up and seeping through his wounds.

"Shit." Drifter tried to pick him up only to be waved off.

"Stop," he hacked out. "Do not touch me unless you want this to spread to yourself." With much effort, Pyromancer managed to raise himself up onto a knee. He planted his hand on his chest, flooding his body with his pyromancy.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Pyromancer laughed ruefully, though it sounded more like wheezing. He reached up and ripped off the wrappings covering his head and face. His once vibrant red hair had faded yellow and had been reduced to clumps that were slowly falling away. Black spots and veins stood out against unnaturally pale white skin. The Darksign that marred the left half of his face was exposed, yet what drew Drifter's attention were the black veins that crawled and squirmed across his face as they slowly inched their way toward it. His right eye was slowly swallowed by black ichor that flooded into his eye.

"By the gods."

Pyromancer flashed him a grin, his teeth stained with the same black substance. "This is my punishment for my hubris. I did not believe it worthy of the same respectful fear that I gave my flame. You and Matheus have been great companions to a fool like me and I am grateful for the adventures you had joined me on. Take this final advice from a sorry fool and never let it go: the Abyss is untamable, it is all consuming—" Pyromancer doubled over as he hacked up more of the black ichor. Instead of splattering on the floor, the substance clung to his skin and squirmed. He intensified his pyromancy to keep it back just a little longer.

"Fear it," he gasped in pain. "Fear and avoid the Abyss at all costs." When Pyromancer met Drifter's gaze, he gave him one last smile as a tear ran from his corrupted eye. "I-I am sorry… that I can not stay with either of you till the end. Please, remember me as long as you can."

Pyromancer stumbled to his feet and charged back into the fray as flame and black ichor began to burst from his body. Drifter could do nothing but watch as his old friend charged straight into death's embrace. No words came to him as his hand grasped empty air.

The beast the three had been fighting was heavily maimed and burned. It bled profusely from its many wounds, the worst of which being a missing left paw and a gash that claimed half its face. Despite its wounds, desperation allowed the beast to keep fighting with its ferocity and strength seemingly unaffected.

"Right here, beast!" Pyromancer yelled. His voice was distorting and his flesh smouldering from the fire he had been pumping into his veins. "Do you intend to die alone? Then come at me! I am ready. We can journey together into the dark!"

"Pyromancer, what are you doing?!" Matheus cried out.

The beast's remaining eye locked on to Pyromancer's crippled form. The instincts that warned it of the danger of his glowing form were overwritten by its desperation and fear. All the beast saw was a wounded hunter and a way to break free from its predicament. It charged forward with newfound strength and a roar of defiance.

Matheus attempted to stop its charge. He embedded his sword into its side, feet planted into the ground, locking him in place. The beast's momentum caused it to tear its side open, effectively disemboweling it, but it was not enough to stop it. Gerhardt, recognizing what was going to happen, grabbed Matheus and pulled him away as the beast's jaws clamped shut over Pyromancer's torso. The sound of a wet crunch of flesh and bone echoed through the air before Pyromancer's body erupted in a thunderous, fiery explosion. The force of the explosion sent everyone to the ground and scattered the insects that were on the verge of overwhelming Spearman.

Chunks of burning flesh and blood rained down around them. All the burning flesh and fur illuminated a far greater area than their torches did. Drifter stumbled onto his feet as he stared dumbly at the remains of the beast. The entire upper torso was blown to pieces, leaving behind the smoldering remains of its hindquarters. There was no trace left of Pyromancer, his friend.

"I can't believe he did it," Spearman remarked.

"It was a good kill," Gerhardt said as he stepped up to the remains. Drifter absently noticed that he was missing his left shoulder pauldron and had new grooves carved into his armor.

Matheus appeared by his side. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Drifter could only nod in response. He gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before turning to Gerhardt, who was walking towards them. In his hands was a piece of the creature's jaw. With a little prying, he pulled free the two largest fangs from the jawbone. Gerhardt handed him the smaller of the two.

"A trophy and proof of your friend's kill," Gerhardt explained. "I feel it is only appropriate that one of you take it on his behalf."

"Thank you."

"I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but that explosion knocked some of the torches free and scattered them," Spearman spoke up. "We only have one left and I don't know how much longer the creature's flesh is going to burn."

"So this is the part where we fight our way out." Gerhardt rolled his shoulders. "Hopefully it serves as a better challenge than the beast was."

As if on cue, the air filled with the sounds of buzzing and chittering as large groups of insects began to encroach on their position. Drifter could see larger insects joining the growing swarm.

"I will take point this time." Matheus took the torch from Spearman. "Stay close behind me. Once we start moving we cannot stop for anything, understand?"

Everyone nodded as they grouped up behind him. Both groups were poised to charge, the air thick with tension. Just when the dam was ready to burst, the pressure suddenly receded. The swarm turned and fled. The group stared at the retreating swarm, dumbfounded.

"What?" Drifter's confused comment echoed everyone's thoughts as a heavy presence began to settle over them. There was a large, heavy splash in the water behind them that managed to send tremors through the ground. Slowly, the four turned around. Drifter's face paled in fear as he found himself staring down a similar creature as the one Pyromancer had slain.

"There was a second one," he whispered in disbelief.

This creature was much, much larger than the first; almost three times the size. Plates of pale black and white chitin peaked out from its dull red fur. A long reptilian-like tail swished in the water behind it. Where the smaller one seemed to be in poor health, this one was still healthy and strong. A pair of antenna-like horns curved over its head as two disjointed eyes glanced among the four, a familiar yellow one with an insect-like red one. The chimera looked over them toward the remains of its fallen comrade. It walked around them to stand over the corpse. The sound of pained whimpering filled the air.

"I think we killed its mate," Spearman said in horror.

Matheus noticed the partially distended stomach and the pink tips of teats that poked through its fur.

"No, we killed its child."

The whimpering changed into a growl before erupting into a pained and wrathful wail. Drifter and Spearman collapsed to their knees as they tried to block out the scream. Gerhardt and Matheus managed to stay on their feet. Despite the pain he was no doubt feeling, there was a smile on Gerhardt's face.

"Finally, a real challenge," he said as soon as the wailing stopped and readied his ax. The chimera turned to face them, its eyes glowing with malevolence and promising revenge. It bared knife-like teeth at them.

"Circle it," Matheus called out. "We need to kill it before the light goes out."

The chimera's head snapped toward him. Matheus met its gaze unflinchingly. After a short moment it raised its head into the air and howled. Unlike before, this one was very low in pitch, to the point that they could barely hear it.

"What was that?"

"I don't know. Be ready for anything."

"If we kill it then it won't matter what that was."

"Oh shit! Behind us!"

Drifter turned around at Spearman's cry. Giant insects were approaching once more.

"Look out!"

He turned back to see a large set of jaws closing in on him. His breath caught in fear. With a mighty roar, Gerhardt embedded his ax in the chimera's muzzle and forced its head to the side, saving his life as its jaws missed. Drifter stumbled back as, in a show of strength, Gerhardt pushed the creature back, forcing it to break off or risk getting tossed on its side.

Gerhardt breathed heavily. "This creature is tough," he muttered with a smile. "It will make a great kill to take home."

"Spearman, can you hold the backline while the three of us deal with this monster?"

"Are you sure the three of you will be enough to kill it?"

"That all depends on if you can hold."

"I-I will do it. No, I can do it. Just know that more bugs will keep coming, so if your fight takes too long, eventually they will ignore me for the rest of you. I will try to prevent that as long as I can."

"That's all I ask. Now go. Drifter, have you regained our senses?"

"Yes."

"Take its flanks. Avoid facing it head on, leave that to us. This thing is smarter than its child."

"And it will die just the same."

The chimera's eyes glowed with rage as it stared down Gerhardt. It reared back once more to screech and summon more of the lessers. It was easy for it to manipulate their weak-minded kind. No matter what it took, it was not going to allow any of them to leave here alive.

Matheus and Gerhardt charged toward it, but to their surprise, it backed away and tried to keep the distance between them. Where the child was reckless and hyper aggressive, the parent was more cautious and patient. Even with the extended range from the still burning fires, there was only so far they could pursue it. They could feel the ticking of the clock as the flames slowly waned in potency.

"Damn beast is a coward," Gerhardt growled.

"Gerhardt, we need to fall back," Matheus whispered to him.

"What?! You must be—"

"Gerhardt! Trust me on this." A silent conversation passed between the two before understanding dawned in Gerhardt's eyes. He turned and fled.

"Drifter!" Matheus called out. "We can't face this creature. We have to flee."

Without second guessing him, Drifter turned his back on the beast and followed after Gerhardt.

The chimera's eyes widened in alarm as it looked past the fleeing predators toward the swarm. It was not large enough yet to prevent them from fleeing. With an angry growl, it chased after them.

Now that the creature had moved further into their dwindling arena, Matheus spun on his heel and threw his sword. The sword embedded itself into its shoulder and sent it crashing face first into the ground. Before it could get up, Matheus used its long snout as a stepping stone to jump up and reclaimed his sword. In the process, he tore open a great hole in its shoulder as he jumped free.

Before the chimera could retaliate, Gerhardt was already upon it with Drifter close behind, him being the slowest to respond. Despite its attempts to defend itself, Gerhardt managed to slice down its forearm, toward its paw and sever two of its fingers. He managed to duck back and avoid getting his head bitten off by a hair's breadth. Drifter managed to strike out at a hind leg, but was only able to deliver a shallow wound. He barely avoided the chimera's tail as it swung out at them.

Now the chimera found itself trapped in a triangle by the three. Everytime it tried to face Drifter, the weakest of the three, the group would circle around so that it was always facing down either Gerhardt or Mathues, causing it to growl in annoyance. They would not give it the chance to break free.

Despite having both arms drenched with its blood and missing a few fingers, it was more than capable of holding its own against the three. Blood soaked the ground as the three danced around it and delivered whatever wounds they could while avoiding its devastating, retaliatory strikes that tore up the earth around them. Its hide proved to be very thick and a hindrance. At one point, Drifter managed to cut its tail in half, but had snapped his blade in two in the process.

Drifter couldn't help but get nervous. The light from the remaining flames was quickly dimming and they were unable to land any fatal blows. Matheus and Gerhardt were more than capable of delivering a devastating blow to the creature, but if that blow did not kill it instantly, then they would be left vulnerable to a counter-strike from it. Considering its strength, a single hit could be enough to end any of them. It didn't help that Spearman was yelling at them to hurry.

The quick glance he spared his way made his heart jump to his throat. There were now insects the size of wolves composing the swarm. By the gods, how big did the abominations in this forest get? There were various wounds all over Spearman's body from strikes that managed to slip by his defence. He was at his limit and would not be able to hold much longer. Already some were breaking off and circling around in the darkness of the forest. Their fear of the creature was probably the only reason they had not pounced yet. But for how long?

Maybe that fear was why he did what he did. He charged in during what he thought was an opening, failing to notice what should have been an obvious tell that the chimera still had sight on him. It struck back with a hind leg like a mule and caught him in the chest. The force, while thankfully weaker than what it could muster with its forearms was more than enough to send him flying backwards and fracture a few ribs. The chimera used the opportunity he provided to break free from their encirclement.

It fell back until most of its body was enshroud in the growing darkness and only its face was easily visible. Its head perked up and glanced to the side before it settled on Gerhardt. Drifter swore the creature was smiling at them mockenly. He managed to drag himself back onto his feet when Gerhardt, never one to back down from a challenge, charged in once more with a battle cry.

"Gerhardt, wait!" Matheus warned, but it was too late. The air whistled as spear sized spines flew out from the darkness. Three of them impacted against Gerhardt, puncturing through his chest and side and knocking him to the ground. He cried out in pain as he struggled to raise himself off the ground.

"Look out!"

Gerhardt looked up in time to see the chimera lunge at him. In a final act of defiance, he lashed out with his axe in an attempt to land one more blow. He disappeared as the creature crashed into him, the impact sending mud and dirt into the air. There was the screeching of metal followed by the tearing of flesh before the chimera flicked its head and tossed the remains of Gerhardt's torso into the darkness toward the origin of the spines.

Drifter's horror quickly turned into rage. He charged in while the creature's back was still toward him.

"Drifter, stop!"

Things were not supposed to go this way. They were supposed to slay this creature and then be on their way somewhere that could undo or delay the curse. No one deserved to die in a place like this. He didn't want to die in a place like this. Alone and in the dark.

Drifter stabbed what remained of his blade into the creature's side before he tried to rip it forward. Unfortunately, he didn't get far before there was a light ping and his sword slipped free. An empty hilt was all that was left of his blade. Fear clutched his heart as he was now helpless before the beast. In response, it swatted him away with greater force than before. His body shattered the bark of a tree as he ricocheted off it and landed face down on the edge of the pond.

The bitter taste of copper and filth filled his mouth as he choked on the tainted waters and his own blood. The blow must have shattered his entire rib cage. It was a struggle to simply roll himself onto his side to prevent himself from drowning. While an Undead's body could take more abuse than a normal human's, there were still limits to how far it could be pushed. His ears rang as his vision blurred in the encroaching darkness. Was it from the fading lights or was he about to pass out?

A blood soaked Spearman stepped into his vision. He was shouting and waving his arms, but Drifter couldn't make out what he was saying. Then to his shock, Spearman turned and ran. His surprise morphed into anger and he croaked out a single word, "Coward."

The air and water around Drifter shifted as something bound over his body. He watched as the chimera pounced on Spearman, his form faded to an outline in the dark. All he could see was its silhouette as it tore him to shreds. It would be a lie to say he didn't feel a small sense of satisfaction at the sight. A torch flew through the air before landing near the creature, illuminating it and the mangled remains of Spearman.

It turned its blood soaked muzzle toward the source. Matheus charged toward it, now with Gerhardt's greataxe in his off hand. Drifter struggled to raise himself to his feet so he could follow him.

The chimera swung at him only to have Matheus meet its blow with his own. His sword swung into a bone deep gash that Gerhardt had managed to carve into its arm earlier. It managed to slip inside the wound with most of its momentum intact and shattered bone. The remaining force was still enough to tear through its flesh and sever its arm. The beast howled in pain as it tried to stumble away. Capitalizing on its moment of weakness, Matheus threw Gerhardts axe at its head.

He managed to impale it in the eye and caused it to reel back in pain. Taking a risk, Matheus launched himself at the chimera's throat. By either luck or the blessings of the gods, he avoided its snapping jaws and brought his blade down through the flesh of its neck. While he was unable to decapitate it, he had managed to tear its throat open and drench himself with its blood. The chimera thrashed around in its death throes, splattering its blood everywhere. Matheus vanished from view as a stray stream of blood extinguished the last torch.

Darkness closed in on Drifter as a faint, dying glow was all that kept him from its grasp. He had dragged himself to his knees when Matheus appeared beside him.

"We need to run," he breathed out as he tried to catch his breath. The beast's dying cries filled the background as the final embers on the field died out and cast them in absolute darkness. He could hear the sound of scurrying as insects moved past them. Mathus threw Drifter's arm over his shoulder as he pulled him to his feet. "On your feet. We can not afford to stop moving. If we stop for a second then we are both dead."

Drifter did his best to hobble along as Matheus carried him forward. The screams in the background were soon joined by the tearing of flesh. Eventually Drifter managed to recover enough to support himself and allowed them to pick up the pace. It quickly proved fortunate as the chimera let loose one last deafening scream that shook the trees. In response, the forest came alive. The darkness became filled with the sounds of chittering and the snapping of mandibles. To the two's horror, the sound of buzzing joined the chorus.

"Keep moving," Matheus yelled in order to be heard over the noise. He grabbed Drifter's arm in the darkness and pulled him in a new direction. The action caused him to stumble and he would have fallen had Matheus not kept a firm grip on him. "Focus on staying on your feet. We will make it out of here, the Sun has not abandoned us."

Despite the faith in his words, Drifter could not keep himself from being terrified. It was difficult. It felt so difficult. His lungs burned with each breath he took and his legs ached. From the noise that surrounded them, he knew that they were being pursued. Easy prey for this forest of monsters. More than once did the air by him churn as something whizzed by in an attempt to cut down or grab him. Were it not for Matheus guiding him, he surely would have crashed into a tree or fallen by now. He was tempted to give up and surrender himself to the forest. At least that way Matheus would have a better chance to escape without him holding him back.

Before he could contemplate it any further, Matheus grabbed and shielded him with his body. The sounds of spines whizzed through the air around them, occasionally joined by the pop of metal as a few punctured through his armor. Matheus coughed and Drifter felt warm liquid splatter on the side of his face.

"Matheus?"

He grabbed his arm before forcing a faintly glowing object into his hand. It only cast enough light to illuminate their hands, but it was enough for Drifter to see what Matheus gave him. His Sunlight Medallion.

"Take this, it will guide you to safety. Go!" Matheus pushed him away. "Whatever you do, do not stop running."

Drifter could hear him draw his sword to face the encroaching swarm. He roared out a challenge into the dark as a final act of defiance.

"Come and face me, foul fiends! I am Matheus of Abednego, and as long as I draw breath, you shall not pass me!"

The sounds of combat faded away as Drifter ran deeper into the darkness. Tears burned his eyes as he poured what little strength he had left into his legs. He clutched tightly to Matheus' medallion. Its warmth seeped into his hand. Drifter had no clue where he was going as he crashed into trees and stumbled over roots. It took everything he had to stay on his feet. If he fell, he would not be able to get up. At one point, something buzzed by his head and left a burning sensation on his cheek. As he ran, he noticed the medallion in his hand grow colder. Another collision with a tree turned him around, but as he ran in this new direction, the medallion regained some of its warmth. It clicked for him in an instant. The heat of the medallion would guide him out of this nightmare. It will guide him out of this disaster of a hunt.

Drifter was bolstered with newfound vigor as he charged down the invisible path that was laid out before him. He would not waste Matheus' sacrifice.

Unfortunately, vigor can only last so long. His body had already reached its limit long ago and the pain was growing unbearable. The forest would not let its prey escape so easily. Something lashed out and tore open a gash in his side and stumbled him, but he would not fall. He was almost sent to the floor when a series of spines lodged themselves into his back, but he managed to push off, back onto his feet before he hit the ground. His only saving grace was that the spines were much smaller than what hit Gerhardt.

Despite all his efforts, Drifter's strength was waning. He was coughing up blood and his legs trembled with each step he took. What little hope he had was gone and replaced with panic and despair. Drifter could feel the swarm breathing down his neck. At any moment, it felt like he would be taken down by something from the swarm.

The ground became uneven under his feet and he could feel the floor drastically slant upwards. The gods would not pay such a cruel trick on him, would they? Like a madman, Drifter scrambled up the hill, falling to his hands and knees in the process. It wasn't as steep as the way they descended into this deathtrap, but he didn't care as long as it was an escape from this place.

The moment he stumbled onto the top, he was blinded by golden rays. Drifter had to shield his eyes from what felt like his first glimpse of sunlight in an eternity. A shining beacon in the dark, the Sun rose over the horizon and bathed the land in its morning rays. He couldn't suppress the laughter that bubbled from his throat as he collapsed to his knees.

He did it.

He survived.

His laughter devolved into hysteria as he wasn't sure whether he should celebrate his survival or despair over the fact that he was the only one to do so.

Drifter was torn free from his turbulent thoughts by the sound of movement behind him. He craned his head around and saw the swarm slowly creeping up the hill behind him. Fliers flitted through the trees in the rear while the main swarm advanced in a hesitant manner. Were they afraid of the light? It took a lot of effort, but to his surprise, Drifter managed to raise himself onto his feet. Now, with the ever increasing sunlight, he could get a good look at the creatures.

Many were sickly pale with their shells nearly transparent. Some, to his surprise, had fur and animal-like limbs and tails. Were they insects with animal features or animals with insect-like features? A fair number were complete abominations, bearing no resemblance to any known creature, insect or mammal. Whatever they were, it seemed that nothing was free from the corruption and bastardization of the Undead Curse. How long before all lands ended up as corrupted as this place? There was a small part of him that couldn't help, but pity the poor creatures.

The swarm hissed, growled and snapped their mandibles in hunger at him. Maybe it was the hysteria still in his system, maybe it was comfort of warm sunlight on his back or maybe it was the indescribable mental exhaustion he was feeling, but Drifter no longer cared about the threat in front of him. All it would take is a single lunge from one of them to grab his leg and drag him from the sunlight. Drifter may have lacked a proper weapon, but that did not mean he was helpless. He grabbed the beast's tooth that Gerhardt had given him. If they still wanted to fight, then he would not go down easily.

For a long moment, they stared each other down. Eventually, whatever they saw in him made the swarm decide that he was not worth the effort. The abominations turned and scurried back into the forest. Drifter let out a sigh of relief. He really wanted to lay down and go to sleep under the sun's warm rays, but the weight of the tooth in his hand reminded him that he still had a task to see through. Hopefully the others will revive soon and join him. Best to have everything ready for them to leave as soon as possible. Those villagers better not try to cheat him, not after everything they had been through. He would not be liable for his actions if they tried.

Drifter waited by their old campsite they had met up at. It was set alongside the road so it was easily visible to anyone traveling on it, though travelers had become a rarity over the years. He sat by a campfire and waited for his companions. Beside him were the packs of supplies they were promised. It was not without its share of problems. Some of the villagers tried to claim that since he had not made it back before sunrise, that their agreement was void. To say he lost his temper would be an understatement. Had the village head not stepped in, he was certain he would have spilled someone's blood, even if all he had was the monster's tooth to do so. While the old man had done it purely out of pity, Drifter didn't care. They gave him what was promised, even if he was almost certain that it was less than what Matheus had battered for.

All he could do now was wait. At first, his mind wandered back to their failed hunt. Was there anything he could have done differently? What about Gerhardt and Spearman? He thought about it for a short time before he eventually had to rip himself away from those thoughts. Grief was dangerous for an Undead, so he had to put the hunt and him out of mind, at least for now. The time it took for an Undead to revive varied with the means of the death being the only measurable factor, yet even then it still wasn't guaranteed to play out as expected.

Drifter didn't care. He would wait as long as he needed to. Even after the fire went out, he continued to stare into the ashes in an effort to keep his mind blank. The Sun rose and fell, but he didn't keep track. Matheus and the others would make it back, all he had to do was wait.

Finally, when the Sun was at its peak did Drifter hear the sounds of someone approaching. He glanced up to see that it was Matheus. Drifter scrambled to his feet with a smile on his face.

"Thank the gods. I was worried that..." The smile fell from Drifter's as he got closer. There were new wrinkles lining his face and his eyes looked more sunken. In the short time they had been apart, it looked like he had aged a few decades. That didn't stop Matheus from smiling in return, his eyes filled with relief.

"Drifter, I am glad to see you escaped in one piece."

"A-Are you okay?" There were noticeably new nicks and puncture holes in his armor. He already knew what happened to him, but he still needed to hear it. How much did his mentor sacrifice for him?

Of all things he could have done, Drifter did not expect his mentor to laugh. "Come now, there is no need for you to ladden yourself with any blame. I may have left a piece of myself behind in that forest, but I made my choice and I would gladly do so again. Do not worry yourself over a trivial matter. Let us focus on what we do next. Here, take this. I know your sword broke during the fight ,so I hope this can suffice in the meantime."

Matheus surprised him when he pushed a familiar looking spear into his hands. Finally recognizing the lack of their other companions, Drifter glanced around, but could not spy any trace of them.

"W-Where are the others?" he asked as his throat tightened.

Matheus' smile faded into a more sober expression. "Unfortunately, it seems that their deaths were too much for either to handle."

"Y-You mean?"

He nodded. "They hollowed. There is nothing we can do for them. Their shuffling corpses will keep the creatures of the forest occupied for some time at least."

That's what Drifter hated most about the curse. It was unpredictable in how it would affect those branded. The uncertainty was the most frightening aspect which was why a fair many Undead still feared for their mortality.

When would you hollow? On your thousandth death? Your very first? Will you fade away, piece by piece until there is nothing left or would you remain whole and sane only to shatter completely at once? How fragile was the soul? Death was not even a requirement for hollowing. There are even those who were branded and hollowed before they could even experience the sweet release of death. No one knew what their fate would be, when their time would run out. He wished that he could brush his fears aside as easily as Matheus or Gerhardt did.

What did they do for the gods to forsake them so?

"Drifter?" Matheus shook him free from his thoughts. "Are you still with me?"

He nodded.

"Good. I thought I lost you there for a moment. Look, it may seem cruel, but you can not dwell on what was lost. We no longer have the luxury to grieve; the curse has robbed us of that right. While we must do our best to not forget the past, we can not allow ourselves to be trapped by it, otherwise the weight of what we left behind will break us. Keep your focus on what is ahead. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah, I can do that."

"Good." Matheus clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll do fine. I have faith in you."

"Only because I had you to guide me." Drifter offered him his Sunlight Medallion. "I would not have made it were it not for you."

"Keep it." Matheus pushed the medallion back. "I can see it in you. You have been touched by the light, now it only awaits for you to answer its call."

"I am not sure if I can."

Matheus chuckled. He walked past to check the packs Drifter had gathered.

"I still remember the stories about your group. The lengths you and the others went to in order to protect the survivors of that town; I knew that even if only half of what I heard was true, then you all had proven yourselves greater and more noble than most knights I had met. I thought that there was a band of men who knew what it meant to be a beacon to those without hope and understood what it meant to sacrifice for the people. I went searching for you and others so that we may all band together to face these grim times as one, but unfortunately, the others had already hollowed by the time I found them—you were the only one to endure." Matheus strapped one of the packs to his back before offering the other to him. "You may not have much faith in yourself, but I believe that your actions that day were not a one time thing. When the time comes, I am confident that you will rise to the occasion and surprise us all."

"Like Spearman did?"

"Him, Pyromancer and Gerhardt."

Drifter laughed ruefully. "I called him a coward." He averted his eyes. "I thought so little of him, yet… he saved my life. He traded his life for mine."

Matheus hummed in acknowledgement. "The beast was moving to finish you off and I was too far away and too slow to stop it. Spearman taunted and baited the creature to save you. His sacrifice bought me the time I needed to kill it. You may think yourself incapable of standing alone against the darkness of our world in the face of your own demise, but you have endured this long for a reason. Have a bit more faith in yourself." He slapped a hand against his chest. "Come on, we still have plenty of daylight to travel by. If we make a good pace, then we can reach that blacksmith in about 2 days."

"What do we do after?"

"I am not sure yet. Are you going to stick around or are you going to run off on your own again?"

"I think I will stay for a bit," Drifter responded with a chagrined smile before he waved his new spear about. "I am going to have to learn how to wield this properly, after all."

"Fortunately, I do know a bit about handling a spear. When we next set up camp I can show you the basics."

"I would appreciate it."

---

"I stayed by his side for a month before we parted once more. He had heard of others like us and left to aid them, while I… I stayed behind to find myself."

Ashen glanced down at Ruby who was huddled against him. Her wide eyes still glistening from her previous tears as she listened, fully enraptured by his tale.

"I am not sure if it was chance or fate, but after we parted ways, I crossed paths with another Warrior of Sunlight, was through him that I finally decided to join the covenant. He took me to one of their few remaining sacred shrines and it was there that I pledged myself. I have been a brother ever since."

Ashen offered his medallion for Ruby to hold again. She wiped her eyes before she cradled it in her hands. He could see the new found reverence she had for it in her eyes.

"We Warriors of Sunlight strived to be the embodiment of the Sun. Our purpose was to push back the darkness when it encroached on the world and to protect life where we could. Together we stood our ground and served as beacons to others. Man, beast or the Abyss itself, we would have gladly faced each to protect what little light exists in this world. We are the promise that no matter how dark the night, the Sun will always rise again."

"You sound like a group of heroes," Ruby said in awe.

Ashen chuckled before he took back his medallion. "While some in my order have no doubt been granted the title, I would not go so far as to say that for everyone. My covenant is an old one. So old in fact that stories claim that it had been founded by the firstborn of the god Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight. Our lord was the Heir of Sunlight and a god of war hence why valor and skill was favored in our warriors. From fighting in wars to hunting man-eating beasts, we did it all to protect the people."

"Wow. So what did Matheus say? Did you ever tell him? I still can't believe he survived such a scary place."

"Yes, well, he was very hard to kill. As for what he said, to say he was ecstatic the next time we met would be an understatement. He was so proud to call me a brother. From that point on, I risked my life beside him on his many quests to aid and protect others. Whenever we parted, it was no longer due to my weakness, but due to my own desires to aid others no matter the risk. I had a purpose to be proud of." Ashen sighed longingly. "I just wish I could remember more of those years."

"What ever happened to him?"

"...He died."

"Oh. Um… do you know how he died?"

"..."

"Ashen?"

How he wished he didn't know what happened to him. An ignoble end seemed to await all heroes. He could still remember the burning pyres in the town square surrounded by a fearful crowd. They were stuffed full of Undead. Strapped to a pole on top of all of them was an imposter wearing his armor. A Hollow that had no right to do so. He was supposed to survive. Superstition was probably the only reason no one had tried to strip his armor. Even now he could hear the mindless and painfilled wails. His sword was the only thing he had left from his first mentor. It still sat, wrapped in cloth, at the bottom of his bottomless box, a gift from his second mentor. Despite the thousands of years, he still could not muster up the heart to touch it, much less wield it.

"Ashen? Ashen! Are you okay?"

Ashen glanced down at Ruby who was tugging him back and forth. He had honestly forgotten that she was here. As much as he wanted to lie and tell her he was, he couldn't.

"No. I have not been okay for a long time, Ruby. For a very long time." He placed his hand on her head. "But I will endure, like I always have."

Ruby frowned before taking his hand between hers. "Aren't you afraid that you will never get better?"

"Maybe I will," he consoled her. "I am finally free from the burdens that I had to shoulder for so long. Now, I can take the time to patch the cracks in my soul." Ashen paused as he thought of a change of topic to get away from grim thoughts. "As for what I fear, despite what you probably expect, I am afraid of the dark."

"You're afraid of the dark?" she questioned disbelievingly.

"I am. I am truly terrified of the dark in every sense. I have had to fight for my life in absolute darkness before and I have been in situations completely bereft of hope. It is ironic that because of that fear, I am able to stand against it. I know what happens when the light is gone. To say it is unpleasant would be an understatement."

"That's why you're a Warrior of Sunlight," Ruby said in understanding. "You become your own light when it's gone."

"Now you are beginning to see. These medallions are said to be a fragment of the Sun's rays, so no matter the situation, we are never truly alone. It is proof that our lord still watches over his warriors."

"Are you sure your group wasn't a band of heroes?" Ruby asked teasingly, her mood rising again. She glanced around the dark forest around them. "Is this why you wanted me to be here so early?"

"It was a large reason for it, but there was one more." Ashen motioned toward the rapidly increasing glow on the horizon.

The morning Sun peeked over the horizon, bathing Ruby's face with its golden rays. The warmth of the Sun's light went to work combating the night chill that settled on her skin. When she turned to look at Ashen, she was surprised to find him doing an… odd pose. Ashen was standing straight, feet close together and arms in the air, doing his best impersonation of the letter "Y". Ruby opened her mouth to ask what he was doing, but then thought better of it. With a shrug, she decided, why not? She took up a similar pose next to him, her arms stretching toward the sky.

"You are doing it wrong."

Ruby looked at Ashen in confusion.

"Here, allow me." He stepped behind her and adjusted her hands so her palms were now facing outward. "Never praise the Sun with your palms facing inward."

Ruby craned her head back to look up at him. "Why?"

"To do so is to say that you can claim the Sun's light as you own. The Sun is the father of all and his nurturing warmth is a blessing for everyone. To think otherwise is pure hubris."

"The Sun is really important to you."

"More than you know. Ever since I joined, I have never willingly missed a sunrise. I never tire of the sight."

"It is pretty to watch." Ruby couldn't suppress a yawn.

"Tired?"

"Yeah," she admitted.

"Would you like to sleep a little longer?"

Ruby blinked in confusion at his offer. She squeaked in surprise when Ashen scooped her up in his arms. He settled her in his lap as he sat by the cliff. Her blush was doing a much better job of warming her face than the Sun was.

"I will wake you in a bit."

As much as she wanted to protest, she did feel tired and she was comfortable. A little bit wouldn't hurt.

"Only a little bit, okay?"

He chuckled. "Pleasant dreams."

Ruby closed her eyes and curled up against him. Despite the fact she was snuggling up against hard armor, Ruby felt more comfortable than if she was laying in her bed. The warmth that flowed into her veins from him soothed her in a way she could never replicate no matter how hard she tried. Any chance of her resisting was lost before it could even begin, and that was before factoring the sunlight's own warmth baking her from the opposite side. In a few moments, she was off in dreamland, relieving happier times. She didn't even notice that there was someone extra in her dreams.

Ashen bathed in the morning rays before he glanced down at the sleeping girl in his lap. Ruby was sleeping quite peacefully, with one small fist under her chin while the other had unconsciously grabbed a hold of his surcoat with a firm grip. She was the epitome of innocence in a moment that no painter could ever hope to capture. Never in his long life had he been so close to a child, not even with the few he had taken under his wing. It was pleasant and he couldn't help but savor the situation.

Eventually their tranquility had to come to an end. A chime broke the silence and caused Ruby to stir. Fortunately, it wasn't enough to wake her, then again, it seemed like it would take something major to pull her from her current dream. Ashen could spot the glow of her Scroll through her skirt pocket. Doing his best to not jostle Ruby, he worked to remove one of his gauntlets. Her small size helped in the matter.

Shriveled, dried, and dead skin greeted him. The worst of it was around his palm where the skin was so thin that he wasn't sure if he was looking at skin or his ligaments. He had to suppress a dry chuckle. What would she think if she saw this? How would she react if she knew what state his body was truly in? Hopefully she would never have to. He did not want to imagine the look of horror on her face.

With his fingers free, he managed to pluck Ruby's Scroll from her pocket. On its screen was a message from her father asking her to come home. Luckily, Ruby had spent some time teaching him how to use a few of the basic features of a Scroll. It was so much easier to use without a glove getting in the way. While the device's capabilities amazed him, too many of its features sounded like needless distractions to him.

He managed to send a short message back to her father telling him that he would bring her home soon. After another glance at her sleeping face he felt reluctant to parting just yet. Another hour to savor this moment wouldn't hurt.

---

Ashen would admit to being surprised when Ruby showed up the following morning to join him in his routine. Considering the newfound awe she had for his covenant, he should have expected no less. It was cute when she showed again on the second day. By the third it had become unsettling. The fourth day had seen him start to worry. When Ruby showed up once more on the fifth day, he had to confront her about it.

"While I don't mind the company, do you mind explaining to me why you are so intent on joining me these last few mornings?"

She yawned before she gave him a sleepy smile. "I want to be just like you and your friends. All the reasons you told me about remind me of why my mom and dad wanted to be a Huntsman and Huntress."

"So you have not yet given up on your dream, then."

Ruby's smile slipped into a frown as she pouted with arms crossed. "No."

This was not the first time that they had this conversation. Despite his many attempts to nudge her away from her foolhardy path, she stubbornly held her ground.

"Are you desperate to throw your life away?"

"I'm not going to. Watch, I'll prove that I will be the best Huntress ever to the point I'm better than you."

"Do you honestly think you can be?"

"Yes!" she shouted. "All your Sunlight Brothers did it. My mom did it. I can—"

"Die. Just like they did." It was a low blow, but unlike previous times, she didn't run off in tears.

"But I won't. I'll make it back and prove you wrong." There was a fire burning behind her eyes now, a fire that he unfortunately helped lit with his stories.

Ashen sighed in frustration as he looked to the rising Sun for guidance. What did he have to say to her to get her to listen. Someone as sweet as her will never survive the hardships demanded of those who try to be heroes. He held his hand in front of himself as a very unpleasant idea came to mind. Ruby was so set on becoming a hero for the world because she did not truly understand what it would cost to do so, but what if he gave her a real example. What if he showed her how terrifying the world could be to those with good intentions.

"What if… What if I made you a pledge?"

Ruby stared at him suspiciously. "What kind of pledge?"

"First answer me this: do you intend to start your training when you turn ten, like your sister?" She nodded. This next part was harder, but he was prepared to make the sacrifice if it could spare her from tortuous fate. "Then, until that day, I will speak of this no more. If on your tenth birthday you still desire to follow in your mother's footsteps, then I will share with you all my secrets and my past."

Ruby's face lit up in pure joy at his offer. He raised a hand to stop her before she could say anything.

"If, after everything you learn, your resolve still remains firm, then… I will help train you, so that you can avoid your mother's fate."

She stared at him awe struck. "Do you really mean it?" she whispered.

Ashen dropped to a knee in front of her and held his Sunlight medallion between them. He grabbed one of her hands and placed it on top between his.

"I pledge this to you on my name and honor as a Warrior of Sunlight. Do you accept my pledge?"

"Yes! Oh, I can't wait. I promise that I'll be the best student ever!" Ruby shot him a beaming smile while she babbled on about their future plans.

It was unfortunate that it would all come to an end in two years time.

---

AN: Wow. This was a long one. I know that scene on the cliffs melted some hearts just like storytime last chapter. Just a heads up to any artists out there who are in need of some paid work right now, I am willing to commission an art piece of that cliff scene with Ruby sleeping in Ashen's lap or when she was leaning on him during storytime last chapter. Side note: there is a poem by Dylan Thomas that I had forgotten about called Do not go gentle into that good night. It honestly, sounds like Dark Souls is based off it. If you want to hear the full version look up the reading by Anthony Hopkins 'Do not go gentle into that goodnight'.

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. I can't believe that I have already broken a hundred reviews and everyday I get more Favs and Follows. Means a lot. There is a note in my profile Bio that is me just ranting on my thought processes to better explain my approach to this story and hopefully explain where and how I am coming up with things such as events that went down in this chapter. Hopefully it provides some advice and ideas for anyone thinking of starting their own story. Leave a review or shoot me a pm. Thanks for reading and I will see you all next time. May the Sun Shine Always.