There was much ado in Cainhurst Castle. By order of Queen Annalise, almost the entirety of its population now focused on a single task: preparing for something she labeled the "purification" ceremony. Its chefs worked tirelessly to prepare the celebratory banquet. Its chaplains collaborated with the rest of the court to prepare the necessary services. And most of all, its servants were tasked with ensuring that the royal hall was nothing short of spotless; wiping the floors and windows, preparing the seating and various other menial tasks, which they conducted with the utmost urgency. Their orders had been given without any prior notice and with a very limited time frame, foregoing the usual protocol for royal ceremonies.
But given the context behind this specific gathering, it was no surprise that Her Majesty wished for it to take place as soon as possible. And that time came a mere three days after Maria's return, when she and almost the entirety of Cainhurst's subjects were summoned to the throne room.
That evening, Maria once again donned her knightly garb, which had been thoroughly cleaned and re-tailored for the occasion. But even though the tears and bloodstains were gone, Maria felt little pride as she observed herself in the mirror, the sight only serving to remind her of the morning of her departure. She'd been hopeful then - something that she'd thought foolish even at the time. And as she left for the throne room and walked through the seemingly abandoned castle, she could feel only a sense of lingering dread. As if she was nearing the point of no return.
As expected, the throne room had been lavishly decorated for the occasion. The banner of Cainhurst was draped across almost every window and had been rolled out across the floor, which Maria walked over as she made her way to her seat. The room gradually fell silent as her presence became known, with every head turning towards her with a sense of awe and in some cases, uncertainty. The captain paid no mind to the states or the faint whispers, keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead, as did those that awaited her at the front of the room.
The King and Queen sat side by side on their thrones, with the latter impatiently tapping her fingers on its arm-rests as she watched her approach. However, they had but one guard; Adrian, who stood dutifully by the King's side and similarly eyed her. Maria gave him only a brief glance, during which she noticed him holding what looked to be a sheathed sword, one that didn't resemble his own.
Choosing not to concern herself with this just yet, Maria came to a stop at the step to the thrones and dutifully bowed to their occupants.
"A most warm welcome to thee, dearest Maria. With thine arrival, the ceremony can finally begin." Upon saying this, Queen Annalise raised her hand, motioning just beside her. "Come," she beckoned.
Remaining as stern as ever, Maria took her place by Her Majesty's side, standing tall and putting her hands behind her back as she looked out at the crowd. She was quick to spot her father near the very front of the gathering, to whom she hadn't spoken since his visit to her chambers. And as she ever so briefly met his eyes, she could see…well, she wasn't quite sure. Definitely not pride. Regret, perhaps?
Before she could dwell on this too long, Queen Annalise raised her hand, silencing the lingering chatter almost immediately.
"Welcome," she began. "It pleases Us to see you all here on this truly momentous occasion. As thous't art no doubt aware, our people left much behind in our excursion from our homeland, much of which was rightfully ours. We were forced to start anew and in time, our new home of Cainhurst would rise phoenix-like from the ashes of Pthumeru, with our glorious city of Yharnam not far behind. And if she were here with us today, We are certain our beloved ancestor would be proud of what we've built. We, the true successors to her throne and dynasty. We, who as we speak, have her blood coursing through our veins.''
After letting her words settle for a few moments, the Queen slowly rose from her throne and took a few authoritative steps forward. "And after tonight, not even the heretical traitors - who still dwell mindlessly in the ruins of our once-great civilization - can deny that."
As if on cue, the King similarly rose from his throne, taking with him a single golden chalice, which he carefully carried on a platter. In short order, he would stop just beside his Queen, bowing his head and presenting her with the chalice, which she took and raised it up high for all to see. Although all they can see were the thin vapors rising above its brims, all those present seemed to realize what it contained, for a chorus of shocked gasps and murmurs soon filled the throne room.
"Yes, our most loyal subjects. The Old Blood. The holy medium by which the Pthumerian line roe and fell." After another pause, Queen Annalise lowered the chalice, delicately running her fingers along its edge as she greedily, and hungrily, stared down at its contents.
"And now… reborn!"
With this triumphant remark, she put the tip of the chalice to her lips and began to drink. The throne room fell silent safe for the faint sound of the Queen swallowing mouthful after mouthful, no differently than if it were wine or water. She must've consumed every last drop before she finally lowered the chalice, heavy breaths escaping her blood-soaked mouth as she gazed at her reflection in the chalice, appearing almost transfixed. That was, until it suddenly tumbled from her hands, causing what little remained inside to drip out onto the floor.
Clutching her chest, Queen Annalise stumbled back onto her throne, moaning in pain. As the rest of the room – including Maria herself – froze in shock, her consort immediately rushed to her side, taking hold of her free hand. "My love?!" he exclaimed. As she continued to writhe, the King looked up at Maria in a panic. "What have you done?"
"Nothing, I swear! It's the blood – it must be…" Before she could say much more, the Queen's moans were replaced with a quiet, almost ominous chuckle.
Looking back down at the hand the King was holding, both he and Maria were shocked to find that its previously wrinkled skin had turned silky smooth, which was also true of the rest of her arm. In a few moments, Queen Annalise raised her head to reveal a face almost as youthful as Maria's own. Every pore, every grey hair; they had all simply vanished.
The two of them backed away in surprise and in the process, parted just enough so that Her Majesty would once again become visible to her gathered subjects, all of whom had been watching events unfold in nervous silence. And said silence somehow grew even more pronounced as Queen Annalise once again rose from her throne and walked fully into view, taking a moment to inspect the restored skin on her arm while smiling in satisfaction.
Her gaze soon fell down to the discarded chalice, which she took the time to pick up before finally resuming her address. "The Old Blood has changed Us. Or more rather, completed Us - undoing centuries worth of dilution and malaise in a single stroke. And today, we mark perhaps the most momentous day in our proud history, since our people first ventured above ground and began our glorious rise. The true heir to the Pthumerian line is lost to us forever, but now, we have the means to repeat the miracle with which Queen Yharnam was blessed. To produce a new Child of Blood!"
The throne room erupted in a series of triumphant hollers and cheers, a chaotic scene that most would think unbecoming of nobility. These cheers soon gave way for an equally loud, repeating chant. "PRAISE THE OLD BLOOD! PRAISE THE OLD BLOOD!"
As she looked on what should've been a source of pride, Maria instead found herself disturbed. The Queen commanded the unyielding loyalty and adoration of her subjects; this had been true of their society since its very inception. But this…this was different. It went far beyond simple adoration. This was worship. And Queen Annalise was relishing it.
However, she would eventually silence the crowd with a simple raise of her hand, not finished with her words just yet. "Of course, We would be remiss if we failed to acknowledge why all this became possible. For all their foolishness, the heretics remained aware of the Old Blood's importance and kept it closely guarded even as they succumbed to their innate savagery. As such, its retrieval was no easy task and alas, ended in tragedy, as all but one of the valiant knights We tasked with retrieving it lost their lives amidst Loran's bitter sands. And that sole survivor is here with Us today."
Pausing for a moment, the Queen turned so that Maria once again became visible to the crowd, looking at her with a smile. "Come forth, brave captain."
All eyes once again fell on Maria as she wordlessly complied with Her Majesty's request, joining her and allowing her to present her for all to see.
"Many of those gathered here will remember a banquet some nights ago, where We gave Our blessings for the distinguished Lady Maria to lead an expedition into Loran. And her men followed her into its darkest depths, where in an act of selfless bravery, they laid down their very lives to ensure her survival and the success of their mission. The significance of their service, and their sacrifice, cannot be understated. And because of this, We shall dedicate a monument to their memory, which shall be erected in their final resting place. There, it shall serve as an eternal reminder of not just their worthy sacrifice, but all those who lost their lives in pursuit of this one, single goal."
As expected, this announcement received little fanfare, with the only sign that anyone even heard it being a few scattered whispers among the crowd. That was, until a single person began to clap - her father. One by one, the rest of those gathered followed his example, until the throne room was filled with an almost deafening chorus of applause.
Yet in spite of this grand gesture, Maria found herself feeling…nothing. The authenticity of her fellow citizens' support did not matter; she didn't need or want their approval. The truth was that no matter what Queen Annalise did to appease her - which she knew for certain this was - it would've been a hollow victory. Matthias, Emil and the rest of her company: they should've been here now, if not with her, then in place of her. No matter how grand it would be, this would not be a monument to their valor, but a monument to her failure.
As the applause died down, Queen Annalise turned her attention to her, paying little mind to her lack of reaction. "As for thee, captain, We intend to reward thy service in full. And for thine outstanding accomplishments, only the highest honor We can bestow is appropriate."
Maria did not need to be told what this entailed. With but a small nod of Her Majesty's head, she got down on one knee in front of her and lowered her head; as she did this, Adrian made his way over and presented the blade he was holding to the Queen, who held out her hand and took it from him without even sparing him a glance.
"Captain Maria of Cainhurst. Dost thou solemnly swear to serve as a shining example for thy fellow knights."
"I swear."
"Dost thou solemnly swear to uphold Cainhurst's laws and customs in every capacity?"
"I swear."
"And dost thou solemnly swear to guard thy kingdom, and thy Queen, with thy life?"
This time, Maria hesitated for a few moments, but eventually gave her answer. "I swear."
"Very well." Soon after, she heard the sound of Queen Annalise's sword slowly being removed from its sheath, the top of which was then placed on her shoulder. As this happened, Maria couldn't help but turn her eyes towards it and in the brief moment she was able to see the blade, she immediately noticed something.
Ceremonies of this sort were always conducted with the Rakuyo - the most prestigious weapon in all of Cainhurst. But the blade she glimpsed seemed to be of a different make: darker, larger and most strikingly of all, pulsing with a faint, but undeniable aura.
All this she registered in but a second before the tip of the sword disappeared from view, as Queen Annalise slowly moved it to her opposite shoulder. "Then with the power vested in Us, We hereby recognize thee as our liege…and hereby grant thee the title of Royal Guard."
With this final proclamation, Queen Annalise gently rested the blade on the top of Maria's head, finalizing her ascension to the highest echelon of Cainhurst knighthood. Or so she thought.
"Of course, We art no longer the same Queen thou pledged thy fealty to all those years ago…and the honor we now grant thee is woefully inadequate." As she spoke, she brought the blade down below Maria's chin and ever so gently used it to raise her head, leaving her to look up at Her Majesty in startled confusion. "As a result, there is one final request we must make of thee. Open thy mouth."
Unsurprisingly, Maria was taken aback by this bizarre request. But she also realized it was unwise to question the Queen, especially at a time like this. And so, she did as she was asked and with her head held high, opened her mouth, like a young bird eagerly awaiting their mother's feeding. Seemingly satisfied, Queen Annalise raised her sword, which she could now see for certain was no Rakuyo. But whatever it was, Her Majesty slowly ran her hand up along its glistening blade, stopping at its very edge.
"And now, I prithee…" she said as she brought her hand, as well as her blade, over Maria's head. "…partake of our blood."
To the shock of their onlookers, she tightly clutched the blade and sharply pulled it downwards, wincing in pain just before blood started to pour from her still clenched fist. Maria didn't even have time to gasp before she could taste the first drops on her tongue, but rather than making her mouth snap shut in disgust, it compelled her to keep it open, allowing the crimson stream to fill it close to the brim. Yet in spite of this, she would not dare swallow.
"Drink deep," she heard Queen Annalise whisper. "Feel the spreading corruption burn."
Finally overcoming her shock, Maria forced herself to gulp down every last drop of blood she'd been given, feeling the burning sensation in her throat as it passed down. And after that, nothing…that was, until she felt that same sensation spreading like wildfire throughout her entire body. Overwhelmed, she keeled forward, using her hands to stop herself from falling over. One hand then gripped the carpet while the other one clutched her aching stomach, her eyes clamping shut as she writhed and wailed.
"Maria!" she faintly heard Adrian cry, no doubt before attempting to rush to her side. However, Queen Annalise must've silently motioned for him to stay put, for this did not come to pass.
"Good," she praised her. "Feel Our blood coursing through thy veins. Embrace thy true heritage and become something even greater."
Not long after Queen Annalise spoke these words, Maria felt the sensation begin to subside. As her breathing steadied, her pain was replaced with a sense of euphoria. But beyond that, she felt…changed. She did not feel corrupted as Her Majesty had claimed, but rather complete. Yet somehow, this feeling proved even more distressing.
Lifting her head, she looked up at her Queen, who still wore that same, satisfied smile. "What did you do to me?" she demanded.
"Simply put, We have perfected you."
Her Majesty then offered – or perhaps more aptly, presented – the hand that she'd cut just moments ago. Yet, there wasn't so much as a scar on her palm, with the only signs of her injury being the red stains around Maria's lips and on the tip of the blade she'd used to spill her blood.
"By indulging in Our blood, thou hast been gifted a portion of Our essence – forever binding you to Us in body and spirit," she briefly explained. "But that is not all."
Before continuing, Queen Annalise presented Maria with the blade. She found that it closely resembled the saber portion of her Rakuyo, albeit sporting a different handle - one more akin to that of a longsword - and a different set of engravings, which spanned the entirety of the blade. Yet most striking of all, she now saw that the few droplets of blood that still clung to the blade hadn't dried, but rather…hardened, as if they had somehow merged with the metal itself.
"Accept this final gift, Our stalwart knight," said Queen Annalise. "And all will become clear."
Maria felt a sense of foreboding as she looked at the offered weapon, but at the same time, she felt herself somewhat drawn to it – as if it were beckoning her to pick it up. And eventually, she did, taking the surprisingly lightweight blade in her hands and finally standing back up, holding it out in front of her. In doing so, she felt very little difference in weight or handling from her Rakuyo, even though they were very clearly not the same.
"This is the Chikage, forged by the same smiths who created the blade that has come to be prized by our most elite warriors." The manner in which Queen Annalise spoke indicated she was addressing the crowd rather than her. "We commissioned its design long, long ago, but it was only delivered to us the night before Lady Maria's departure, when We still had no use for it. But We knew this would not be the case for long; that her success would finally usher it in as the primary weapon of Our Guard. As we speak, dozens more are already being delivered to us, with many more following soon after. All shall know of its might – the might of Cainhurst Castle!"
Despite Her Majesty's majestic description, Maria failed to see anything immediately noteworthy about this new weapon to warrant it. It was surely a fine blade, but not more so than her existing Rakuyo, at least not in its current state. But at once, she recognized that this was no ordinary blade.
"It is time," Queen Annalise suddenly proclaimed, causing Maria to finally break her gaze away from the blade and turn towards her. "Closest of kin, bearer of our blood…thou knowst what must be done."
At first, the newly christened Guard found herself confused, but as she looked back towards the weapon in her hands, everything suddenly became clear, just as Her Majesty promised. The strange, crystalized blood on the tip of its blade; Queen Annalise's miraculous restoration of the flesh it wounded; and above all, its alluring aura. The blade called to her…and it promised her atonement.
Without even realizing what she was doing, Maria repositioned the sword around so that its blade was facing the floor, tightly gripping its handle with both hands. Then, she slowly began to raise it higher and higher in front of her, until the tip of its blade was pointed towards her torso.
"Maria?" She once again heard Adrian's worried voice, but it did nothing to stop her. "MARIA, DON'T!"
With a guttural yell, Maria plunged the sword deep into her stomach, digging it even further within until she felt it protrude from her back. Her body was racked with agonizing pain as her vision began to dim, her heart began to beat in her ears and her grip on the handle began to fail.
Yet just as her fingers started to slip, she experienced a sudden rush of strength, allowing her to once again grab the handle and almost instinctively pull the blade out of her body with one, forceful movement, unleashing another deafening cry that echoed throughout the throne room. In the process, she unleashed a powerful burst of blood, not just from her wound, but all around her, painting the surrounding floor and windows a crimson red.
The crowd looked on in horrified silence as Maria stood hunched over in front of them, breathing heavily and struggling to stand as she held her blood-soaked blade. Shutting her eyes, she tried to fight back the pain that still plagued her body, stemming from the gaping wound that remained in her stomach…until it began to mend itself, stitching her flesh back together in just a few seconds. As for her lost blood, most of it now coated her sword like a sheath, further extending its already impressive length.
And Maria herself? She could feel every drop of blood in her veins pulsing with power, creating a feeling unlike any other. It was rapturous. It was…incredible.
"Behold!" Queen Annalise proclaimed from behind her. "The future of Cainhurst!"
Standing to her full imposing height, Maria held out her blood-imbrued blade for all to see, keeping her eyes closed as she reveled in her newfound strength. Then, her eyes suddenly opened, revealing glowing red irises surrounded by an otherwise dark void. As she looked out at the shocked, terrified crowd before her, Maria smirked to herself.
Her path was finally clear to her.
...
Author's Notes: Shit just got real.
However, I should probably take this opportunity to say that I'm not entirely sure how often I'll be able to upload future chapters. The reason for this is that on top of resuming classes, I also now have a full-time job I need to worry about, which has left me with little time to devote to my writing. That being said, I do think I've managed to find a good balance and I don't believe it should impact my output too drastically. Hopefully.
Regardless of how things turn out, thank you for sticking around.