A/N: Next chapter, you could call it the end of an arc really.
Beta: Genatools
Chapter 10: Never Without Hope.
Patches had led them back through the Tomb of the Giants and the Catacombs through secret passages that he used to move around, in less than an hour they managed to traverse the place all the way to the entrance. He did so while being threatened with blunt trauma the entire time of course, but if there was something that he had proven time and time again, it was that he was pretty slippery in nature.
"Alright, we should be close to the exit. Gotta say it feels nice to smell some fresh air." Patches commented and the others didn't respond. "No one? Hmm… I thought some conversation would be appreciated."
"How far are we from the surface?" Eskar asked.
"Oh not much farther. We only gotta go through these steps and up we are in the cemetery… It's a secret exit you know? It's of great use for all the people that come out of the Catacombs."
"Who comes out of the Catacombs?" Beatrice tilted her head.
"Oh people like me… there's a couple of scavengers but like, only three people. I don't know them. Then there's those weird people with foul stench that seem to enter, be all friendly with the skeletons… and just leave and enter as they please. Oh... and there's always the clerics." Patches huffed.
"Impossible… no pilgrimage has ever come back from the catacombs. They must have come for other reasons." Rhea shook her head
"Oh, but they do go deeper, they pillage and get rid of all sorts of people here, what better tomb after all. Heh heh heh…" Patches laughed.
"No no no you lie, you lout! You knave! Don't soil the name of the priests and clerics that spread the will of the gods. It is not your place!" Rhea recoiled from Patches.
"Those rotten clerics are already soiled if you ask me." Patches commented.
"Don't start anything, thief, you've done enough already," Oscar warned him.
"I am just saying how it is. You know it too! They send disposable and unprepared people down here, all undead. Not hard to figure out why." Patches accused Oscar Eskar and Beatrice, and then he got hit on the back of the head by Beatrice's catalyst.
"Oww!"
"... Believe me, I distrust the church. But right now that matters not. What matters are your actions, you have caused more than enough. She does not deserve it and especially not from you, as already helped cause her friends to go Hollow." Beatrice told him.
"Considering what you do, you also have no room to speak. You are scum yourself." Oscar said.
"Hey, I know scum… and if you think I am scum, then you haven't met the people I met… Buut- I- okay listen. I know I did wrong, but do know that I understand you… wouldn't want my friends to go Hollow. Of course, they really aren't my friends, and they've cheated me… and maybe a good scare would do them good." Patches began to say.
"Sounds like you are made for each other… maybe you need one as well," Eskar told Patches.
"Eh, not like that… I mean uh… uh, I can definitely learn. I swear I won't push more people, I swear on my name and all things that are good." Patches raised his hand as if to take an oath.
"Of course. And we are supposed to believe you?" Oscar was not convinced at all. Nobody was.
"Well… maybe. Speaking off, we are getting close to the outside. What would you do with me once out there?" Patches asked with a hint of nervousness.
"We shall see," Beatrice answered.
"Oh come on, there's no holding cell or city guard or anything out there, everything is abandoned. You wouldn't leave me to rot… or… or…"
"Depending on what happens, we'll see," Eskar repeated.
"Bloody hell." Patches sighed and they continued walking undisturbed, they eventually saw a light and could see that they were approaching the exit Patches had spoken off.
"M-maybe he's r-right…" Rhea suddenly stammered
"Hmm?" All the others looked at her.
"Nico, Vince, and me. We weren't ready for the horrors that were down there in the dark. Perhaps that's why everything went so wrong. I thought we could manage any challenge, that the gods would watch over us, but in the end, even Petrus couldn't aid us. He disappeared soon after we stumbled down on the Tomb of the Giants." Rhea said.
"... Petrus came back to Firelink Shrine. He said he looked for you everywhere and couldn't find you," Oscar told her.
"Then perhaps it is my fault I pushed Nico and Vince on and they followed me, maybe Petrus knew we would need to be more careful. He stood back to get his bearings and told us to go further. I should have been more patient, waited for him." Rhea told them, but something stood out.
"Petrus…" Patches said to himself but commented no further.
"Petrus told us you were surrounded by skeletons, that then you were forced to fall deeper and separate to escape them," Beatrice said.
"We were. But we managed them, after that, we reached the Tomb we were all together. Maybe he thought his rest caused us to separate? He shouldn't be blaming himself, I'm the one that caused it."
"He… he said that he wasn't sure where you had gone… and that it had been in the Catacombs. Not the Tomb itself." Eskar added.
"Well… we did go off aimlessly in the dark, maybe he thought we would return to the Catacombs? Maybe that's what we should have done. He was always smarter than us, always knew where and how to guide us." Rhea said. The trio looked at each other, unsure what to think at the moment.
"You said Petrus shouldn't blame himself, Lady Rhea, you shouldn't blame yourself either. Please." Oscar begged her.
"But… I don't think there's someone else to blame for this… tragedy. If I hadn't been so sure about myself… maybe then we wouldn't have been tricked by…" Rhea refused to look in Patche's direction. For his part Patches focused on another matter.
"Well… it seems it has been rough. But we are here at the exit." Patches told them as he pointed towards it. Now they could clearly see it. It was similar to the entrance of the Catacombs itself, with what seemed to be a bottomless pit and a set of stairs that led out towards the surface.
"Then let's get out of this place," Beatrice said.
"Yeah… about that. There's something about that…" Patches said nervously.
"And what is it?" Eskar asked, worried that Patches might try something. And his hunch was right. Only not how he would have expected.
"Well… you need to run! Now!" Patches raised his voice pointed towards the side. There were more Wisps in this part of the Catacombs, and they were coming their way, several Wisps.
"What the- You did-!" Oscar was about to accuse.
"Yes and no! But you need to run now!" Patches yelled as he prompted them to leave by stepping out of the way. The urgency of the situation worked against them as they couldn't set a proper plan or figure out what to do besides what Patches told them. They wanted to beat him down, but more pressing matters occurred, and when they tried to drag him with them… instead he managed to slip by and ran in the other direction. Towards the Wisps.
"What is he…?" Beatrice and the others gawked as Patches dove between the Wisps and made them explode going as fast as he could he managed to run past them and come out unscathed. But the stairs had been blown apart and there was no way back. There had been so many Wisps that the explosions chained and made the cave shake starting a cave in.
"Sorry friends!" They heard Patches call from the darkness, Eska used the Skull Lantern and was able to point it towards Patches in the distance, a bottomless black void separating them."But I didn't like my chances, didn't know what you were gonna do to me! But you are free leave now! Better go before you end up as pat of the cave. Heh heh heh…"
"You bastard!" Oscar called to him.
"Hey, don't worry, I'll be fine, we might meet again too. But you should go before a rock falls on top of you." Patches said as a rock fell and broke down another section of the stairs. Making them move further up towards the exit. "Do take care. Oh, and if you've met Petrus. If you want to know what scum is, that rotten cleric is scum. Take my word for it… Hah hah hah hah hah!" Patches laughed.
Another set of rocks began to fall and Eskar, Rhea, Oscar, and Beatrice were forced to run up the stairs to avoid them, they reached safety as more of the stairs collapsed. Whether by design or not, Patches had made his move when and where it would have been pretty hard for them to not reach the exit, but it wasn't like he hadn't put them at risk. That was the second time already.
"The little-" Eskar aimed the Skull Lantern towards where Patches had been, even at a distance the lantern could illuminate, but Patches was nowhere to be found, he had completely disappeared.
"He… he's gone. That despicable weasel." Rhea said, she was angry with him and would never forgive him. But she also couldn't bring herself to focus on it, she was still too focused on her own guilt.
"At the very least we made it out. Hmph." Beatrice huffed.
"We can't worry about him, we'll deal with him if we ever see him again. But for now… we have to leave. We've been in this place long enough." Oscar said and Eskar and Beatrice nodded. Rhea followed them close as they walked towards Firelink Shrine.
"I- I… I don't believe it…" Petrus said in disbelief "M'lady?"
"It's good to see you are well Petrus." Rhea bowed her head towards him.
"I can say the same M'lady. I… don't know what to say. To think that you braved the Catacombs and managed to return." Petrus turned towards the trio of Oscar, Eskar, and Beatrice.
"We did as we said," Beatrice responded.
"Well…" Petrus paused, deep in thought he brought his hand to his chin. After the pause he looked back at them and seemed to be looking for others. "Eh? M'lady…? Your knights… did they…"
"They… they turned Hollow Petrus, after we slipped deeper into the Tomb, we were tricked and pushed down a crevice. Vince and Nico lost faith, it was my fault, if I had been more careful maybe then they wouldn't…" Rhea lowered her head, the small sound of a sob coming from her.
"Perhaps but… I'm afraid it is done now. I'm sorry to add this to you M'lady, but the mission has failed. Do not dwell on it, there's nothing more to do now." Petrus put a hand on her shoulder.
"I know… and I know what it means." Rhea nodded.
"Pardon me. But what are you speaking of?" Oscar asked them.
"M'lady is of noble birth… yet not even she can escape the fate of those that become undead. Thankfully she was part of the Way of White. We can give undead purpose even in these dire times, and that includes pilgrimages in service of the church." Petrus explained.
"... Hmm." Eskar crossed his arms.
"M'lady was supposed to go to the Catacombs and retrieve something sacred. But in our state I doubt it can be done, and as such she has failed. She cannot return to Thorolund." Petrus said, not only to the others, but to her as well.
"I understand…" Rhea said still with her head lowered.
"Your name will not help you either… it, it doesn't amount to much now. Forgive my crassness M'lady but… there's nothing I can do. You cannot be part of the Way of White anymore." Petrus said and Rhea silently nodded.
"That is if she failed on her mission?" Oscar chimed in.
"Our pilgrimage was in vain, I don't think there's much else that can be done," Petrus said.
"But what if she hadn't failed?" Oscar continued to ask.
"Heh, the sentiment is appreciated but… it is not the case. Perhaps it was simply too much, the… sacred artifact is something that was buried long ago down there. It would have absolved her and her friends. But… that place is the realm of the dead." Petrus solemnly said. The trio looked at each other and pondered. Eskar eventually tapped both of the shoulders of his companions to draw their attention. The three of them picked a secluded spot to have a private conversation.
"Should we…?" Eskar prompted the question. They had the Rite of Kindling after all, and unless there was another pilgrimage to retrieve a sacred item that the church could be looking for, then they had indeed succeeded were a hundred others had not.
"I'm… skeptical," Beatrice admitted as she looked at Petrus over her shoulder.
"We could aid her, we would be able to aid go back to her home." Oscar said.
"Yes, and give the Way of White the Rite of Kindling. We cannot even presume what they will do with her." Beatrice argued.
"You think they would dispose of her?" Eskar asked. Both Oscar and Beatrice looked at him, then at Rhea, and then at each other.
"The undead are scorned and hunted… and the church would not hold someone like her. Not publicly." Oscar said, he knew first hand what was thought of the undead on the farthest reaches of the world.
"... The Rite of Kindling was a pilgrimage thought impossible. Or at least it would seem so with the amount of failed attempts. Yet… is almost like she doesn't acknowledge that." Beatrice said.
"You believe she doesn't know?" Oscar asked.
"Perhaps." She answered.
"She may not know… or perhaps she does. What choice is there for an undead? She doesn't seem to have one." Eskar commented.
"Doesn't answer what we will do. What would even be the right option?" Oscar asked.
"Perhaps there's none…" Beatrice lamented. "I cannot trust the Way of White with something like that Rite…"
"Then she would be left to turn Hollow somewhere. I shall not in good faith allow that." Oscar said.
"Hmm…" Beatrice thought and could not see an alternative, not one worthy of consideration anyway.
"What about Petrus?" Eskar asked. The other two looked at him and paused, then looked back at Petrus and then back at Eskar.
"... Are we trusting the likes of Patches?" Oscar asked a bit bewildered.
"Petrus hasn't inspired confidence. Rhea is one thing, Petrus… he is… odd… and unless everything is a coincidence. Then he also has some mishaps to answer for." Eskar said.
"He seems adamant and loyal to the Way of White. That's all we truly know." Beatrice said.
"Lady Rhea does deserve better, however." Oscar reaffirmed.
"... She does. But…" Beatrice once again tried to figure out something that could help Rhea, but there wasn't an option, she was already undead. That already had sealed her fate.
"What if… we gave her purpose," Eskar suggested.
"Purpose… how?" Oscar asked.
"With purpose, she might not go Hollow. And she might agree… she can think for herself, and the only person of the church here is Petrus." Eskar pointed out.
"What do you have in mind?" Beatrice asked. Eskar explained to them his idea, it wasn't a horrible plan, but it wasn't great either. However, Oscar and Beatrice agreed that it could be a way to help Rhea without giving the Rite of Kindling to the Way of White, not directly at least. After deliberating certain points and aspects they agreed to give it a try, if nothing else, they would at least have made an effort.
They returned towards Petrus and Rhea. Rhea was praying on her knees and from where they were standing they could hear Rhea praying for Vince and Nico's souls. Petrus seemed to join in the prayer, if only in spirit rather than doing the action himself, he did however hear them coming and turned to greet them.
"Oh, you again. I would like to say thanks again for rescuing M'lady. As of now we… We are giving Nico and Vince an appropriate prayer. Is there something you wish to speak off?" Petrus asked the trio.
"As a matter of fact, we do," Beatrice said.
"Hmm… and what would that be?" Petrus eyed the witch with suspicion.
"We wanted to know what the two of you would do now. Since your pilgrimage was in vain." Oscar chimed in.
"Oh, we would have to depart soon. M'lady would have to go and find a place to atone. I would still need to return to Thorolund." Petrus said.
"Hmm… if that's the case, we wanted to extend Lady Rhea an offer." Oscar said.
"An offer...I don't see how I could be of any help. I am inexperienced and only know the art of miracles." Rhea turned towards them.
"M'lady I-" Petrus tried to voice something, but was interrupted.
"Lady Rhea, we want you to know that in some manner. You did not fail." Eskar stepped forward and in his palm appeared the sacred Rite of Kindling.
"By the gods! Is that the-?" Petrus eyes widened and he stepped.
"The Rite of Kindling. How?" Rhea stood up with surprise and marvel on her face.
"When we went looking for you. We managed to find its guardian. We fought it and recovered it." Beatrice answered the young priestess.
"That… that should belong to the Way of White." Petrus quickly said. "If it truly is then… t-then that would allow us to… it would be a most divine sign, and of great aid." Petrus stumbled on his words as he tried to approach Eskar and grab the Rite. Only Eskar stepped back before Petrus could come close. "Ehem, pardon me, but that is the purpose of our pilgrimage."
"We know," Eskar responded.
"T-then, what is it you want?" Rhea asked them.
"We want to ask for your service Lady Rhea, we are on a journey of our own, and the strength of the Rite would aid us immensely. I, Oscar of Astora, I'm ringing the Bells of Awakening to know the fate of the undead, that which is thy fate as well. it would aid us immensely if we are able to use the Rite. All we ask is that you allow us to use it, and we'll confide its protection to you." Oscar said with a fist on his chest.
"It's protection… to… me?" Rhea was shocked.
"We believe we can trust you with it. Sir Oscar would also be in your debt if you allowed him to learn other miracles as well. We would all be in your debt." Eskar said.
"I… I… you should not be in my debt. It is I who is indebted to you for all you've done. For rescuing me, for giving peace to Vince and Nico, and for giving me the chance to continue my work as a priestess. I don't think anything I do would ever repay you enough." Rhea said as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
"M'lady… the Rite of Kindling should be in the hands of the church. We cannot give it to-"
"Once the journey of Sir Oscar is over, you'll be free to take it." Beatrice said.
"But that's… M'lady… you should know that-"
"Petrus, please. Allow me to do this. It's our duty to aid those in need, faithful or not, and I cannot think of a better cause than the fate of the undead. It is another pilgrimage commanded by the gods after all." Rhea pleaded.
"M'lady, be realistic… the pilgrimage was one thing, but that journey, even in reaching the first bell, would be a fool's errand," Petrus begged her to reconsider.
"One bell has already been rung. We are the ones that rung the bell of the Undead Parish." Eskar said.
"It was… you?!…" Petrus was dumbfounded.
"If that's the case, maybe your triumph could be the gods' will. Please allow me to aid and repay you in any way I can." Rhea said to the trio.
"We just want you to remain here in Firelink, keep the Rite guarded, and to teach Oscar what you can," Beatrice said.
"I do believe I can at least do that much. Very well. Know that if you so choose, you can also learn the art of miracles, it is never too late." Rhea offered Beatrice and Eskar.
"M'lady… she is…" Petrus couldn't find the words.
"I'll… consider it." Beatrice said in apprehension, she did have a small smirk on her face as she noticed it would annoy Petrus however, for that reason alone she considered it, but she doubted she would be a worthy priestess, she hardly had much faith.
Rhea turned to Petrus, begging him to allow her to do so. Her mind was already made and Petrus knew it. He was now stuck between the possibilities of Lady Rhea joining the trio in service, with no control much control on the matter, and also the possibility of losing the Rite of Kindling. Both options were not to his liking, but weighing his options, only one was far more favorable.
"You say once your journey is done, you'll relinquish the Rite of Kindling?" Petrus asked them.
"It is our word," Eskar answered. Petrus tried to look at Eskar directly for any sign of treachery, but he only found the laughing carved face of his mask. Hiding any sort of tell.
"Hmm, very well." Petrus sighed. "I'll entrust M'lady's safety to you. I'll be near, and I'll be watching." Petrus warned them.
"Very well." Oscar nodded.
"Thank you, Petrus," Rhea said to him, she then turned to the trio as Eskar approached her and handed her the Rite of Kindling. She felt awe as she looked at it, a dark sprite of black and red, hovering like a soul between her hands. "I will keep it safe."
"Then if that's the case, feel free to join the rest of the people of this shrine. You need not be isolated in this corner of Firelink." Oscar said.
"Oh. I… I don't believe I should. I do not warm easily to unfamiliar faces. I fear it would be difficult for me to…" Rhea wasn't able to find the words.
"Il faut kell faciem por plibonigi." Eskar said in response.
"Huh?"
"One must face difficulty to improve." He translated immediately after.
"I… suppose it is true,"
"Allow us to help you then, no one in Firelink will be a threat," Beatrice assured her.
"If… if you so say. Very well, I am in your service after all." Rhea stepped toward them and followed them. Eskar and Beatrice led the way while Oscar remained by Lady Rhea's side. Once looking at the pyromancer and the sorcerer she hesitated, but Oscar reassured her by taking her hand, gently guiding her forth. Petrus for his part remained apprehensive and clenched his teeth. A new problem had emerged after all.
For a day, life in Firelink Shrine seemed to brighten up a considerable deal, however, it hadn't been without some tribulations. It had been a chore to assure Rhea that she wouldn't have to worry neither Griggs nor Laurentius, as both of them preferred to mind their own individual business and the Crestfallen Warrior… if there was one good thing that could be said about him is that the same way he didn't want to be bothered he wouldn't bother anyone himself. Even if it was difficult for Rhea, she agreed to try and get along with the other inhabitants of the shrine, or as well as a sorcerer, a pyromancer, a former warrior, and priestess could coexist. A small rule was set that neither of them would try to force any of the others their views, as different practices tended to collide, however, they all agreed. They all had the goal to share what they had, indebted to the same group of people, and they themselves would admit that human interaction was a pleasant distraction from the current state of the world. Even Rhea in her apprehension was able to agree.
"Uh excuse me, young lady… are you doing alright?" Laurentius asked Rhea.
"Oh… pardon me, but I'm doing quite fine. I was merely praying. I apologize if anything I did was of concern." Rhea apologized.
"Oh no, not at all. You simply looked troubled and I thought… Well, I don't know, thought could you need something." Laurentius stammered.
"It's… I'm still troubled by… the fate of my companions. I was praying for them." Rhea said and her voice cracked. "I'm sorry the memory still… pains me. I… I do not wish to speak about it anymore."
"It's alright, I get it. Though if you need anything feel free to ask… I do have with me a nice assortment of herbs, I believe I can make a tea that even an undead can taste." Laurentius offered.
"Your offer is kind, it is appreciated," Rhea answered.
"Of course." Laurentius bowed his head and then returned to his little corner. That was until Griggs came along.
"Hey, Laurentius, I wanted to pass an idea by you," Griggs said as he approached.
"Oh… does it involve one of those complicated formulas?" Laurentius asked him.
"Well, sorceries of Vinheim tend to, but I can skip that step if you so prefer. It's something that occurred to me after speaking with Beatrice and Eskar." Griggs told him.
"Ah, I see. Thought what would you need me for?"
"Well, I was under the impression that maybe that if I could compare the intuitiveness of pyromancies with-"
"I'm sorry but… I'm not sure."
"Uh, uh… you didn't let me finish." Griggs was visibly saddened.
"Yes I know… but I got an idea of what you want. I know sorceries can be similar to pyromancies and that many have used them in tandem. But… I've heard of many accidents. It's not something easily done. And don't take this the wrong way, but I don't trust either of us capable of doing such a feat. And if you would rather do it… I don't feel comfortable handing out another piece of myself." Laurentius said.
"That's fine, I understand." Griggs in the end agreed, however disappointed he was.
"You… you two teach the Masked One Eskar and the Witch Beatrice?" Rhea asked.
"Oh, well in a sense, both of them are quite capable on their own, we simply guide them with what we know," Griggs said.
"I… I see." Rhea said as she looked towards the bonfire. She mused back on the role that the trio had given her and she eyed the Rite of Kindling.
"That's it isn't it. The Rite of Kindling." Griggs said.
"It is, they tasked me with keeping it safe," Rhea responded.
"I always found it odd. Odd how we pyromancers can control the flame… yet with bonfires, I could not even fathom how they even work." Laurentius said.
"They are a gift from the gods, a way to peer into the First Flame and its light. The one that uplifted us, we came from it… and some say that's why undead return to them." Rhea explained.
"Huh. Well, if they choose you to keep it safe, then perhaps it is in good hands." Griggs commented.
"I will do my best so it is so," Rhea affirmed. Neither of them were truly friends, but there was a silent relief they shared at being capable of being amicable with each other. It reminded them they could all work for a common cause. And the relief wasn't exclusive to them as well.
"It appears that rule might have not been necessary. Although it is a good policy." Beatrice said.
"Hmm." Eskar simply nodded. Both of them were leaning against a wall close to the Crestfallen Warrior waiting for Oscar as he was "talking" with Anastacia. They kept an eye on Rhea for the time being and were pleased that she could at the very least mingle in some capacity with the others, even if she didn't think she could.
"The poor lass would honestly not last a day in this place, you could call it a miracle she didn't end up a Hollow." The Crestfallen Warrior sighed.
"Was that a jest?" Beatrice turned towards him.
"Merely an observation." He answered. "Though I wonder if you made the right move. Most wouldn't hesitate to get their hand on the Rite. I myself don't really care, and the other two care too much about their own little problems. But I cannot speak of anyone else."
"It was either keep it and not help her. Or hand the Rite to the Way of White to attempt to aid her." Eskar confessed.
"Oh, hmm… maybe it's better this way then. Or worse perhaps, maybe she would get all loyal towards them one day and decide you are all heretics, it's what I hear clerics and priests tend to do when they don't get what they want." The Crestfallen Warrior said.
"She's… a bit too polite and naive for that. But you are not wrong, other clerics would do that for 'their' sacred Rite." Beatrice said as she turned towards the ruin and saw Petrus sulking in the distance. He was eyeing Rhea as she was talking with Laurentius and Griggs, and was clearly upset and not approving of the situation.
"Well… as long as no commotion or an army of devotees comes here. But I doubt anyone like that would want to come here. At Least they know how dangerous and mad this place is, that's why they send undead here. Hah hah hah hah." The warrior laughed.
"As funny as it might be. She might know that as well. She knows it's no mercy." Eskar commented as Oscar walked up the steps from Anastacia's cage and joined them.
"Are you speaking of Lady Rhea?" Oscar asked.
"She's getting along with Laurentius and Griggs, and seems to be doing quite well. Petrus is another tale, something still irks me about his presence. His stare has only grown darker since we've shown him the Rite of Kindling." Beatrice put forward her worry.
"He needs to remember his position. His lady chose our offer, he loses naught with being patient." Oscar said.
"What would happen if he had other ideas?" Eskar asked them. They turned towards him and pondered for a second.
"You think he would go ahead and try to nick it? To take it and run all the way back to Thorolund? I would understand if it had crossed his mind. But even he must know what a bad idea it would be to try and steal it in front of so many." Beatrice said.
"He seems far more ekscitita. (Agitated.)" Eskar said.
"... You will have to forgive, but you haven't said that one before," Beatrice said to Eskar.
"He's more upset. He's more anxious, and he seems to be weighing his options." Eskar clarified.
"Is that all you said in that one gibberish word we didn't understand?" The Crestfallen Warrior asked.
"No."
"I do not know what he plans but it would be best to keep an eye on him, lest he get any ideas. I'll go speak to her and ask for her miracles. Make sure she knows she's helping." Oscar said and the others nodded. As Oscar approached Rhea, she seemed to brighten.
"Oh, Sir Oscar. It's a pleasure to see you doing well. You are here for miracles I presume?"
"I am Lady Rhea."
"Very well. I will be ready immediately." Rhea said as she stopped her prayer and stood up. "Am I right that you seem to already know the tales of the lightning spear?"
"I do. A friend of ours introduced me to the Warriors of Sunlight." Oscar said.
"The Warriors of Sunlight are not recognized by the church. It is long believed that they vanished, but their faith was never in question. Looking at you, I don't doubt your faith. You'll be able to understand and use most of the miracles I can show you."
"... Very well. Then let's commence," Oscar affirmed.
"Right." Rhea nodded. Meanwhile, Eskar and Beatrice kept talking as Oscar began to hear the tales of the other miracles.
"Miracles. So far we've seen the lightning spear. Are other miracles like it?" Eskar asked Beatrice.
"Not quite. Miracles are in a sense magic considered divine or spiritual. They are the tales of the gods after all. But their effects vary. They are intended as blessings, and many of them involve healing or protection. The lightning spears however, those are different, they are tales of Lord Gwyn and his knights, the tales of dragon slayers." Beatrice told him.
"Dragonslayers…" Eskar thought out loud, then came his next question. "Why lightning?"
"For reasons unknown, dragons have a weakness to lightning, it pierces and gets past their stone scales. Breaking the source of their immortality. There could be more miracles like those, but similarly to the strongest sorceries and pyromancies, the most powerful are guarded secrets, and the gods keep their blessings close, and hardly give them away to many." Beatrice explained.
"Hmm…"
"I am sorry, but I do not know much more, miracles and how the gods truly work isn't my expertise. But if we are to keep discussing magic, maybe we should focus on the fields we both practice. Sir Oscar is practicing his after all." Beatrice offered.
"Perhaps…" Eskar said. He stopped leaning against the broken wall he was against and then looked towards Griggs and Laurentius, but right then and there he spotted Petrus again, pacing. "Hmm."
"Still worried?" Beatrice asked.
"I am… and you are too." Eskar pointed out. "He did call him true scum." Eskar said, remembering Patches' words.
"... A man like that can hardly be trusted. But men like that also don't tend to lie about the sins of others, not so calmly." Beatrice granted. " Do you wish to confront him? Or talk to him."
"He would deny it, anyone would deny it," Eskar said. "We would need to know more."
"Well, from where I stand the cleric has always seemed shifty, he was always there, not doing much. He would sometimes leave and come back. But I hardly cared." The Crestfallen Warrior offered his knowledge.
"Of course you didn't care." Eskar huffed.
"Now, now, let's not get like that. But I'll grant you would need to find someone that knows more about him, and good luck finding someone other than that lass. Hah hah hah hah." The Crestfallen Warrior laughed, but then however they heard the sounds of metal plate, of steps coming from the direction of the cemetery, and then they saw him. Knight Lautrec.
"Oh you are joking." The Crestfallen Warrior sighed.
"Hmm?" Beatrice stared at him in confusion.
"Say what you want about that one, but he knows all sorts of shady individuals, he would know."
"Would you perhaps be talking behind someone's back? Not a good show of manners eh?" Lautrec said as he approached them.
"Not for reasons you might think," Eskar said.
"Truly Masked One? Do tell, what is it about then?" Lautrec pressed the matter.
"We wondered if you know anything about Petrus. We are suspicious of him." Eskar answered.
"Oh truly. Keh heh heh heh… Well look at you, you have good instinct, because you do have reason to be suspicious of him." Lautrec relaxed and chuckled.
"You know something?" Beatrice and Eskar stepped closer to Lautrec.
"Heh heh… I do."
After learning Lautrec knew more about Petrus, Eskar and Beatrice waited for Oscar to finish his lessons with Rhea so that he could also join them. They decided to have the conversation in a place more secluded. Lautrec's favorite spot next to Anastacia's cage was what they agreed in the end. Once the three of them were there, Lautrec made them an offer in exchange for what he knew.
"If you are that interested, I can tell you your suspicions are well-founded. But if you want details… heh heh heh. That's gonna require a little more. Would you consider paying for this little… bit of information?" Lautrec put forward his offer.
"Is there no way to convince you to give that information for free?" Oscar asked him. "If you say Petrus did something, then surely you can see that it would help everyone if we knew."
"I'm sorry, I know I'm indebted to you but I already paid that debt, and… sadly I need help as well. I, like any other fool, need souls. But don't worry, I promise it will be a fair price. Failing that, I say you should follow your gut and deal with him." Lautrec said.
"How many?" Eskar asked him.
"Oh, about… six thousand souls should suffice. Normally since you are three I would ask for more. But I feel this is fair for everyone." Lautrec said.
The trio looked at each other before deciding. In the grand scheme of things, six thousand souls weren't much, especially if they all chipped in, and to add to that, their doubts about Petrus was beginning to gnaw at them, the information was worth it at the moment. The tee of them gathered their souls and formed a mass that then Eskar handed over to Lautrec.
"Here they are. Can you tell us now?" Eskar said to Lautrec.
"Khe heh heh heh… Of course. You made a wise choice indeed." Lautrec said before coughing to read his voice. "Ehem, you rescued Maiden Thorolund from the Catacombs, correct? Well, when she became stranded deep below, her followers fled or turned Hollow. I'm sure you know… but only one of her followers remains sane, the one who fled."
"Petrus fled?" Oscar asked.
"He did. I happen to know that he was nearby when the maiden slipped and was pushed down below. He watched as it happened, and then turned around without a word. Whether he panicked or had more ill intentions. Well, who knows, but if he told you anything other than that… well, then you would be right to call him a liar. Khe heh heh heh…" Lautrec chuckled.
"How do you know this? Were you there?" Beatrice asked.
"Oh, that? I met someone else on my travels… his trinkets did him no good in the end. But he did tell me what he saw. Believe what you want, but I do believe Petrus to be a liar, and more. You learn to tell apart his kind from the rest. The ones with hidden agendas." Lautrec said.
"If it is true… then why… what is his goal?" Eskar brought up a hand to his chin. Or at least to the chin of his mask.
"Regardless of what it is… we got two accounts now. Sir Lautrec called him a liar, and Patches called him the worst kind of scum."
"Ugh, you met that man… oh if ever someone has rubbed me the wrong way. I swear one day I'll have his hide." Lautrec clenched a fist.
"I understand the feeling. But regardless of that, are you starting to believe Patches as well?" Beatrice asked Oscar.
"... The more I see, the more I believe Petrus is at the very least a coward, hiding behind his faith and unwilling to look at his mistakes. I believe he could be envious of others perhaps." Oscar admitted.
"Oh… heh heh. I believe he could be much more than that. That man has more to him than simply some… faults. If I were you maybe I would wonder what other sins he could have committed. Khe heh heh…" Lautrec chuckled.
"Sins… the pardoner." Eskar realized.
"Not what I had in mind, and I would never get close to the likes of him. But sure, that's an option, he is of the talkative sort." Lautrec granted.
"We are… going to him?" Beatrice wondered.
"... Do you believe Petrus has done worse?" Eskar asked Lautrec.
"... Not for me to say. But a man that lies about a duty that was supposedly sacred to him. Could be lying about so much more." Lautrec said.
"Would the pardoner know?" Oscar wondered.
"If his book does as he said it does. Then the book might." Eskar said.
"The Book of Guilty." Beatrice realized. "Perhaps…"
"Then we need to know… the more we hear the worse it appears for him. We need to figure this out, and then get the truth out of his own lips." Oscar said.
"I agree." Eskar nodded.
"... We are going then. Very well." Beatrice in the end agreed with them.
"Good luck to you… I hope you get to the bottom of it." Lautrec said to them. "I'll probably won't be here to see it, as I have other places to be. But I'm sure it will be entertaining." Lautrec said.
"... Farewell Sir Lautrec," Oscar said. By now they could tell that if nothing else, Lautrec was no stranger to violence or shady individuals, perhaps he could even be vengeful. But so far he seemed to have been straight with them. As long as they didn't anger him perhaps he could be an ally still. But for now, they had other issues. They left Lautrec to his devices and walked up the steps and towards both Griggs and Laurentius.
"Oh, there you are. Do you three need something?" Griggs asked them.
"Yes we do. We need both of you to keep an eye on Petrus while we are gone." Beatrice said to Griggs.
"Keep an eye on him? Is he… dangerous? He never gave that impression." Griggs commented.
"We have some suspicions. We'll come back soon, but while we are gone, we need to stay wary of him." Eskar told them.
"Weary… weary that he might do what?" Laurentius asked.
"Anything. He looks far more vexed than before, and anxious." Eskar said.
"Is this… is this about Lady Rhea?" Laurentius asked and the trio nodded.
"Do make sure she stays safe, we will return quickly. I doubt Petrus would try anything, but we cannot be too careful." Oscar said to them.
"Of course, we'll make sure nothing happens," Laurentius said and the trio went on their way to the elevator. They did pass by Petrus as they went towards it, and he made sure to look at anywhere but them.
"... Would he still be here?" Beatrice asked as they approached the bell tower of the Undead Parish. Reaching the roof of it had been relatively easy from the elevator, even if some Hollows persisted.
"... I suppose we will have to see for ourselves," Oscar said as the three of them approached the tower, as they crossed the door to the inside, they found Oswald with his arms outwards waiting for them.
"Greetings! How art thou?" Oswald welcomed them. "Have thou come here to confess? Or perhaps would you seek to expose the sins of another?"
"... You could say we are doing the latter." Eskar answered.
"Truly? Then tell me the name of the one who has wronged thee. Of course if you wish to accuse, they had to have sinned in the first place, only true sin is my domain after all. Hah hah hah." Oswald laughed.
"As a matter of fact, we would rather confirm if another has sinned," Oscar told the pardoner.
"Oh, and how do thy wish for me to assist?" Oswald asked.
"We wish to buy the Book of the Guilty," Beatrice said to the pardoner.
"Ah, but of course, a simple amount of a thousand souls would be enough for the book. Then you may wish to scour the pages to thy heart's content." Oswald said as he showed them the book.
This time, Eskar chose to pay for the book with his souls. He handed over the thousand souls and Oswald handed him over the book, giving him a small bow in appreciation for the transaction. As Eskar received the book, he earnestly opened it and began to scour the pages, only to find thousands of names, and not all of them necessarily ordered or organized in a way he could discern. Oscar and Beatrice looked over his shoulder and began to see the pages as well.
"Where could he be… how are we going to…" Oscar wondered.
"It's going to take ages." Beatrice sighed.
"May I ask thy quarry? I might be able to assist." Oswald offered, the trio eyeing him at his offer. They didn't necessarily mistrust the pardoner, but they were unnerved by him. Regardless, Eskar considered it and decided it would be the best course of action.
"Petrus of Thorolund, we want to know if he's a sinner."
"A devoted cleric that follows the Way of White a sinner? Oh, if thee hath said so from the beginning." Oswald smirked as he approached them and seemingly picked a random page in the middle of the book. He opened the book at the page and dragged his finger on the page until he reached one particular name. The one of Petrus.
"The guilty can always sin more, and the book knows it, and so the worst sinners have a special spot at the front of the book. Petrus of Thorolund may not be the worst sinner out there. But he has climbed the ranks in recent times. Hah hah hah." Oswald said.
"So… he has sinned after all," Oscar said, part of him saddened that he could believe it. He did not think the worst of people of the clergy, and knew many would be good men and women. But he also knew of some unspoken rules about the church… of how cruel it could be, of the people it could employ, and of the people that could hide amongst them.
"Oh, he is. But by his expression, I wager you don't truly know how truly drenched in sin he truly is." Oswald smiled.
"Drenched in sin?" Beatrice asked.
"Yes, he did not earn that spot at the middle of the book for nothing after all. But if you seek further proof… well. I say you would do good to check his private den." Oswald said
"Private den?" Eskar repeated.
"Yes if you took the elevator… all thee have to do is descend the underside of it. Thou shall find a secret passage that will lead to a small nook where Petrus has hidden some of the possessions he uses for his job. I assure you, whatever his most recent sin, he has done before time and time again. Hah hah hah." Oswald laughed.
"He… did wonder if the elevator was still intact when we met him," Beatrice remembered.
"Hmm… good question as to why. Hah hah hah." Oswald laughed once again.
The more Petrus thought about it, the more he reached the same concussion. He needed to move quickly and find a way to take the Rite of Kindling and go back to Thorolund, he had to, as the Knight, the Witch, and the Masked One clearly did not trust him and seemed to have convinced the innocent Lady Rhea to help them on their journey. And the dumb brat went ahead with it without putting her teachings and his advice into consideration. He didn't know what would happen if he just let them continue on their journey… but the path of the fate of the undead was doomed, even if they managed to ring one bell, there was no way they would ring the second… no one had so after all, they could even lose the Rite once again if they decide to give it to Lady Rhea. With that in mind, Petrus decided he needed to start finding a way to take the Rite on his own.
Petrus decided to approach Lady Rhea in the middle of Firelink to try and convince her that the journey and fate of the trio were doomed, that it would be best if both of them left to get the Rite of Kindling 'safe'. However, as he approached he noticed that both the pyromancer and the sorcerer were close and paying attention.
"It's something the matter?" Griggs asked Petrus as he walked forward.
"Oh, nothing. I simply wish to speak with M'lady." Petrus said with a smile to reassure them.
"Petrus? Please tell me, is there something you need from me?" She asked him as she stood up.
"Well yes, M'lady. I wish for you to reconsider the offer those three gave you. As much as their goals might be noble, I fear their journey is far too dangerous to risk losing the Rite of Kindling. The rite should go back to the church as soon as possible." Petrus said.
"I… I understand Petrus but… is it not our goal to help those in need? If their journey is to be so perilous, then we should aid them as they have aided us. And with the Rite of Kindling, they might be able to endure the journey." Rhea argued and Petrus clenched his fist.
"M'lady… that is not a risk that can be taken. Out of those three… only one follows the gods dutifully and the rest are… non-believers at best. You cannot trust them to keep to their word. They could decide the Rite would be better in their hands." Petrus said.
"Petrus… please don't speak ill of them, they've proven to be goodwill," Rhea said.
"Yes, and more than once… we are also helping them. We have our own plans, but we also want to help them achieve their goal, we are undead as well after all." Laurentius chimed in.
"Yeah… I would trust them." Griggs joined in on the conversation.
"And what would you know of goodwill? Neither of you follows the church… I would go as far as branding one of you a heretic." Petrus said specifically to Laurentius.
"Petrus! What's gotten into you? You are not usually this way, and these people do not deserve these words." Rhea cried.
"M'lady, with due respect I don't believe you understand the importance of that Rite, you would have the chance to return home and regain your title, and yet you decided to remain in this accursed land? Are you so selfish as to value your own glory over the fates of your companions?!" Petrus pressed.
"Petrus… if it wasn't for them, I would remain in this land regardless, and the sacrifices of Nico and Vince would be for naught. I… I can understand if you think my decision rushed. But it is only right to aid them, my soul tells me so."
"... You need to remember what you have been taught, where your loyalties should lie!" Petrus raised his voice and got closer only for Laurentius and Griggs to get in his way.
"Petrus… you are scaring me… why are you doing this? You've never acted like this!" She cried.
"Maybe because of your decisions M'lady."
"That's enough! What you are doing is not good in any sense." Laurentius said.
"You are just… antagonizing others for no reason." Griggs stammered, yet remained firmly in place, it was strange for him to see Petrus shift so suddenly, and it was also scaring both him and Laurentius to a fair degree. Yet they wouldn't allow him to continue, they were asked to stop him if necessary after all.
"Again. What would either of you know of goodwill and righteousness!" Petrus challenged.
"More than you'll ever know. Cleric." Petrus' eyes widened when he heard the voice of Beatrice. He turned around to see the trio eyeing him while carrying a bag, he was able to see their emotions as well, clearly displayed even though Oscar's helmet and Eskar's mask. It was pure disgust.
"Pardoned me but this is not of your concern," Petrus said towards them.
"What are you doing?" Oscar said in a bitter tone.
"I'm simply telling M'lady the concerns I have about the three of you. Your endeavors will only risk M'lady and the Rite of Kindling, endangering both to be lost. I'm merely worried for M'lady." Petrus said.
"Mendax." (Liar) Esakr said.
"W-what?" Petrus tilted his head.
"Mendax et söpredék!" (Liar and scum!) Eskar raised his voice as he tossed the bag over towards them, landing on the floor and revealing a set of cracked red eye orbs, Lloyd's talismans, homeward bones, a morning star, and also a talisman for miracles.
"Those are yours, are they not?" Beatrice asked.
"T-t-those are not mine! Are you trying to accuse me of such nefarious possessions?! I would never engage in the acts of invading. These must be yours… Are you trying to incriminate me to hide your misdeeds?" Petrus tried to shift the blame onto them.
"We are merely confirming your misdeeds, we have the proof… you are a sinner. The pardoner revealed as such." Oscar said.
"T-the pardoner?!" Petrus exclaimed as the trio opened the Book of the Guilty.
"Your name is next to some of the worst sinners out there. If you want to make sure… neither of our names are there. Even if you hadn't used those Lautrec, the pardoner, Patches… all of them tell the same story of you being a liar and a sinner. A wolf in sheep's clothing. You knew where young Rhea was in the Tomb of the Giants, you watched her fall… and then turned and left without a second thought." Beatrice said.
"You… you damnable witch. You dare to accuse me on the testimonies of such people, such knaves and the instrument and followers of a sacrilegious goddess?" Petrus lashed out.
"But a goddess nonetheless. Cleric." Eskar said.
"Eh…" Petrus paused.
"Petrus…" Rhea stood and stepped away from him. "That can't be true, you've always been there, helping other undead that… that never returned." She realized. "You wouldn't… a man like you."
"M'lady they are nothing but liars-"
"Others… that is your job." Oscar accused him. "You lead undead here, make them fail to make sure they never return. And if for some reason some would persist, you hunt them down. You are nothing but an executioner for the church, a glorified assassin that gets rid of the undead… to make sure the church remains clear of the curse. You damn your own devotees… the gods would be ashamed." Oscar pieced together.
"We are doing the gods' work!" Petrus snapped.
"... Petrus?" Rhea stood back.
"... " Petrus remained silent as he noticed how riled up he had gotten, how no he had almost confirmed the suspicions of others. He knew what the logical approach would be, to deny and lie until someone believed him, or make them doubt the trio. But with Griggs and Laurentius not being of the religious kind, he knew that would be unlikely. He was also simply upset, tired of everything going wrong, and denying him what should be his reward. He was done with the young lady, and he wanted to hurt her if just a little bit.
"M'lady… you and your noble birth would not understand. How you got everything you wanted and even a chance when turning undead. I aided the church far longer than you and I hardly got a just reward. If you must know… I lied, you won't be able to return to Thorolund, already people have forgotten about you, you'll go Hollow eventually after all."
"... Petrus-"
"You should have stayed down there and left yourself rot. Let any miscreant do whatever they wanted with you. To steal your humanity and even more. Is what you deserve for being so naive… and then even when you got the chance, all it took was three fools to be nice to you for you to forget the purpose of your pilgrimage!?"
"Petrus I…" Rhea was crying by now.
"You could have gone home and returned in glory, and then you decide to do what's "right" for them? To waste it. How immature can you be? The church's will is what you should ultimately serve before anything else, aren't you a priestess?!"
"Aren't you a cleric?" Eskar interrupted.
"Shut your cursed tongue Masked One, you do not deserve the Rite. You do not deserve the rewards! I alone am more worthy of it after all the sullen work I've done. The church should reward ME! And I will take my reward." Petrus yelled in his anger. In his fury and monologue, he had the idea that his best bet was to take the Rite and run. He thought himself capable, he thought he would do it. He was so angry that he didn't care for the risks. He was sorely mistaken if he thought he had a chance.
The moment he tried to attack Rhea she stepped back and Laurentius and Griggs stepped in. Griggs stopped Petrus' mace with his shield while Laurentius pushed Petrus back with a combustion. Petrus skidded back and regained his flooring raising his mace and shield to try and charge past them and kill Rhea. However, he quickly was pelted by a soul mass and a heavy soul arrow. He turned around to see Beatrice having fired the projectiles and Eskar and Oscar moving to rush him. He turned towards them and immediately suffered a soul arrow from the back, Griggs ford the soul arrow at the back of his leg and made Petrus stumble. A furious Petrus turned towards Griggs but could hardly do anything as Eskar moved by him with a roundhouse kick and slice of his sword, cutting at his sides while Oscar came from the opposite direction, striking with his own sword on Petrus' opposite side.
Petrus had enough energy to lift his shield and block a strike from Oscar and tried to raise his mace. But just as he did Esakr grabbed his arm and pushed his palm against Petrus' elbow, breaking the arm and making Petrus drop the mace with a yelp. Eskar then used his sword to cut at Petrus' leg, forcing him to kneel down while Oscar used his shield to strike Petrus in the face and struck at his arm with his sword. Frocin Petrus to drop the shield. For good measure, Eskar performed a heavy roundhouse kick that landed on Petrus' face and made him fall flat on his back.
Petrus knew he had been defeated. But the adrenaline and anger drowned out any sense to think of a different plan. The others stopped attacking and Petrus stared back at them, he was done, and they knew it, and they were telling him to surrender, as he didn't have the strength or skill to fight against them. Petrus despised their pity, he wouldn't have it from them, so instead of surrendering or thinking of other alternatives, he reached for his mace with his other hand and used all his strength to charge at them again. It ended with Eskar driving his sword right through him. Only then Petrus came back to his senses.
"But… how… why… what did I do wrong?" Petrus lamented as his body banished into souls. The air became stiff after that, on one willing to speak on the events.
"Petrus…" Rhea said his name one last time, and then she began crying. Was she angry? In a sense, but she only felt sadness at Petrus' revelation, and how she had been too naive to not see it sooner. The others were there for her, and remained at her side while she cried her sorrows. The trio had thought of continuing their journey, but they would remain on Firelink for another day to make sure the young lady would recover.
They would have to leave however, as the path to the second Bell of Awakening continued, it continued deep into the Depths, and then towards Blighttown.
A/N: And that's the end of the chapter. Now I'll admit, Petrus proved a challenge for one reason, and that was that he truly doesn't care if he is exposed, even if you rescue Rhea. You can see that in-game, as such it would be difficult to make him act rashly and reveal himself more fully or even attack her in public for any reason. However, I figured that with the Rite of Kindling right at his fingertips… he would snap under his greed and envy, not to say the promise of such power, as it could possibly grant him a better job and position if he brought it back with him to Thorolund I presume.
The Chosen Undead never reveals he has the Rite, but that's more for other reasons. But I figured seeing the Rite would make Petrus at the very least react in some greedy manner. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing according to him himself. And also figured the trio could realize that and use it to expose him. Just to clarify, they didn't know that Petrus would react that way to seeing the Rite of Kindling, they simply didn't trust him to have it over Rhea. His reactions are what gave way to their suspicions and well… Petrus' demise.
But anyways, that's it for now. Review if you so wish. And I'll see you on the next one. Have a good day.