Summary: Ornstein and Tempest go back into the archives, but a plan has to be formed before they can challenge the pale drake. Maybe they can find some hints in the giant library?
(Author's note: My apologies for the wait on this chapter. I needed to write out some Bloodborne stuff and finish one of my other WIPs but now I was able to dive back into this and we are even going back into the action.
Maybe we get this first lord soul soon ^^)
Ornstein found Tempest waiting in front of the cathedral, dressed in the black leather set he already had worn earlier in the kitchen, topped with a gargoyle's helmet, a silver knight straight sword in his right hand and a knight's shield in his left.
"We trained so that you wouldn't have to rely on a shield.", Ornstein scolded him, a frown on his forehead.
"I know.", Tempest said. "I just... I feel a little more secure with it?"
"As long as it doesn't slow us down." Ornstein had to admit, with the myriads of archers in the archives, a shield would be nice. Especially because the little storm didn't exactly wore armour that would secure peak protection of any sharp projectiles coming his way.
"Let's go.", Ornstein sighed. He wanted to get this over with. Hopefully the training would expose itself as fruitful and they were out of this place before the sun got dropped and replaced with the moon.
Before they set off, Ornstein noticed that the two giant sentinels normally guarding the front gate of the cathedral were gone.
"Huh, seems like my training already paid off.", he murmured.
"These guys!", Tempest suddenly blurted out. "They look far more intimidating than they are. They are big, but slow. After training with you their movements felt like someone cast a slowing spell on them."
"Good, that means you will help me getting rid of the ones guarding the way to the archives.", Ornstein said.
"Oh, darn! I forgot they were more of them!", Tempest shoulders hung low.
"Let's... let's just go.", Ornstein scratched one spike of his helmet, hand clutched around his spear which was standing loosely on the gorund.
The both of them walked in silence until they came to their usual training grounds, where Tempest excused himself to use the bonfire. Ornstein also heard him chat with the dark moon knightess. She apparently told him a few details about Seath. Nothing special. She certainly left out the more juicy details.
"Please excuse the wait.", Tempest came running back to Ornstein with a smile on his face. Damn, it was that cute smile. That one that was half a grin and half joyful. Ornstein quickly jerked his head around and was very interested in the cobblestone instead.
"Shouldn't you be more nervous?", he asked.
"I am nervous! We are going to fight a dragon! But at the same time, I am sure everything will turn out alright, because I am with you."
That hit right into Ornstein's heart. How could this little Undead put so much trust into him after that sparse time they had spent together? "That.. that hasn't something to do with you or such.", he said, head high, prideful. He had to show that he was a lion. He was the dragon slayer, not some babysitter. "I simply follow Gwyndolin's orders."
"Yes, right.", Tempest said, unsheathing his sword as they walked towards the building which contained the statue of Smough.
… Lately Ornstein hadn't thought much about Smough, but laying his eyes on this statue, the feelings rushed back to him and he just stood there, eyes locked on it, trying to fight the urging tears back.
"Um, Ornstein, a little help?"
Ornstein groaned as he saw that the little storm had managed to get picked up by the scruff of the neck by one of the sentinel's halberd: "How have you managed that, idiot?!"
"I thought you would help!", he cried as Ornstein already rushed in to take care of the giant sentinel who had Tempest on his weapon. Once he dissipated, Tempest murmured: "Oh no, that is not good..." before falling right into Ornstein's arm.
"Th.. thanks for catching me.", he said, his face seemed to be heated, with a slight red on his cheeks.
"I.. I just caught you because you were practically falling into my arms... that means nothing.", Ornstein said, putting the Undead on the ground. Damn, his own face felt flushed too.
"Careful, the other one!", Tempest shouted and rolled out of the way just in time before the halberd crashed on the ground.
"Take care of it yourself.", Ornstein ordered. "I took care of the other one."
"Alright!", Tempest took his sword in both hands, circled the sentinel and hacked away at it until it collapsed and disintegrated into the magic it existed of. Now only the sentinel in front of the archives was left and was no match for their combined power.
"Do we need to take care of the boars a second time, too?", Tempest asked.
"I don't think so. These aren't illusions or hollows. They probably have been the last ones in Lordran.", Ornstein replied.
And, in fact, the boars were gone so that Ornstein and Tempest had a very uneventful trip through the hallways, where Tempest sat down at the bonfire. "At least getting here was a breeze.", he murmured.
"Yes, but the real challenge begins now.", Ornstein said. "So, what things don't we do once in there?"
"Not going through any fog gates without asking first."
"Good, what else?"
"Not storming off on my own."
"Perfect."
Ornstein was more than satisfied and stood up. Soon, the little storm followed him as he stepped on the elevator.
"So, when we are up there, we lure the melee fighters to the platform and then I rush forward and take care of the archers.", Ornstein explained, earning a little nod of Tempest.
That plan worked flawlessly and while Tempest was busy fending off the crystal hollows on the elevator, Ornstein took care of the archers without effort before returning to the small Undead and help him dispatch the last foe.
As they wandered to the doorway leading into the library, Ornstein heard the very distinct sound of a soul arrow and quickly hid behind the wall. The little storm however, wasn't that quick and got quite a hit on his right arm.
"Ow.", he hissed and nestled for his estus flask to heal the damage. "Ornstein, what are we doing?"
Ornstein peaked into the room. That the channeler was back was baffling for him. They weren't Undead. Just how many loyal channelers had Seath left?
"There are crystal hollows left and right. When we want to get rid of the channeler, they will surely sneak up. However, see this large book cases? When each of us takes care of the crystal hollows behind them, the magic can't come through and once we are done dispatching them, one of us can take care of the archers behind the channeler while the other takes care of him."
"Can I fight the channeler..? I am pretty sure once I have faced one of them and.. I just want to try.", Tempest asked.
"You sure about this, little storm?", Ornstein grinned. What had happened to the scaredy cat the first time they had been here? Tempest nodded to him.
"Very well then, let's go. I'll go right, you'll go left."
Ornstein didn't wait for Tempest to acknowledge his words and took care of his portion of crystal hollows right away, all while he heard the sounds of soul arrows hitting the book shelves. Luckily, the channelers Seath still had with him didn't seem to be of the brightest sort. Once Ornstein had managed to to take care of his batch of hollows, he cowered behind the shelf and waited for Tempest.
He could hear the clanking of a sword on crystal, the sound of a club hitting a shield and some mild cussing as Tempest seemed to make his way through his batch of hollows. Soon after, he came in sight, taking a sip out of his estus flask.
"Ready?", Ornstein signed with his fingers and Tempest nodded. Ornstein made sure to get rid of the archers as Tempest approached the channeler.
After Ornstein had zigzagged between all of the archers on the stairs to make sure that no arrows would come Tempest way, he leaned against the railing and watched the battle of the channeler and the little storm. Clumsy like always, but at least the rolls of the small Undead managed to actually avoid any damage and soon after he drove his sword deep into the channelers back, blood splattering on the ground.
"I did it!", he cheered, bending down to pick up the trident of the channeler. "Oh look, he left his weapon."
"Don't waste time with this, you are not a sorcerer.", Ornstein complained.
"Ornstein! You could have helped me!", Tempest shouted as he saw how casual the dragon slayer was leaning against the wall.
"Why, weren't you eager to fight him all by yourself?", Ornstein scoffed. "You are lucky he didn't teleport away! Probably thought you were easier to take down than me!"
Grumbling, Tempest walked up the stairs, trident still in his hands. "So you are telling me, you were helping just by standing around?"
"Yes.", Ornstein couldn't help but grin under his helmet.
Now that a majority of the crystal hollows had been taken care off and the rest of them were patrolling around the landings, soon the both of them stood in front of the fog gate.
"I think I can hear him breathing...", Tempest murmured, an ear pressed against the fog gate.
"The first time you were in there, did you notice anything?", Ornstein asked.
"No. It was too quick. There were crystals on the ground and then I died."
"Crystals... I know that Seath experimented a lot. I wonder if he used to try and replace his scales with something?"
"Now that you mention it, I could get a glimpse at him and I think I indeed saw some crystals sprouting out of his body."
"It's probably safe to say that Seath has done something to his body to secure that he can't get hurt. Before we haven't found out what it is, we shouldn't face him."
"How shall we find this out?"
"We are in the archives."
Tempest felt a drop of sweat form on his forehead upon the realization of Ornstein's words: "There must be millions of books here!"
"Not millions, but thousands indeed. Searching through them would indeed be too much. For now, I suggest we go back and search for anything that can help us. Maybe Seath left some notes for us to find."
Tempest silently followed Ornstein back into the large library room.
"So, where do we start?", Ornstein asked.
"How about we check left and right the stairs we used to get to the elevator?", Tempest suggested.
"Sounds good, let's go."
On their way, Ornstein scanned the book shelves, but he couldn't find anything worthwhile. Seath probably wouldn't just file his personal notes next to the usual books. When they would be able to find some secret stash of books, a place were Seath stored all that knowledge he had collected during the centuries...
"Hey, look, there's a chest!", Tempest called and rushed over, flipping it open.
Upon seeing this, Ornstein cleared his throat: "What are we doing when we see chests?"
Tempest shrank in fear and took a step back, but approached the chest again when it didn't spawn teeth. "...Checking if it is a mimic.", he answered.
"You were lucky this wasn't one.", Ornstein said and came nearer to look at the contents of the chest. Tempest was holding a twinkling titanite.
"Hm, that certainly strengthen the theory that Seath uses crystals.", Ornstein said. "Twinkling Titanite was pretty important for the silver knights too, their weapons could only be reinforced with it. You should hold onto that, you surely can use it for your sword."
"Guess I have to pay Andre a visit after we are done.", Tempest pocketed the item.
"Andre?"
"A blacksmith in the Undead Parish."
Ah, another Undead probably. For the Undead, having weapons in top condition was very important, so a blacksmith would probably swim in souls when they opened up shop in Lordran.
"There doesn't seem to be anymore here. Let's check the other side.", Tempest rushed forward. Ornstein calmly followed him. His walking speed was more than enough to keep up with the little storm.
"Hey, I see another chest!", Tempest called and rushed over to it only to get hit by a crystal hollow that came out of a small alcove.
"Ow!", he shouted, swinging his sword blindly. "Where did you come from?"
Ornstein didn't rush to come over and dispatched the second crystal hollow, who came from the balcony, in one hit.
"That's why we don't rush.", he said, leaning against the wall. Tempest's eyes were fixated on something else.
"There's something lying there!", he rushed outside and came back with another twinkling titanite in his hand. "Huh, Seath really liked this things. They are everywhere."
"It's safe to say he experimented with it. Why do you think all the hollows in here are crystallized?"
"Makes sense, yeah.", Tempest focused his attention on the two crystal hollows guarding the chest. He glanced at Ornstein. Sighing, the lion knight rushed forward with him and took care of one of the crystal hollows.
"Now.", Tempest said, taking a sip of his estus after his own foe was down. "Now I check, if it is a mimic." With that, Tempest gave the chest a heavy kick.
"No, you idiot! Use your weapon!", Ornstein shouted, but it was already too late, the mimic had gotten Tempest's leg and eagerly chewed on it.
"Ornstein, help!", the little Undead screamed and Ornstein abandoned his spear to put both hands under Tempest's shoulder and pull the idiot out of the iron grip. As Ornstein did his best to not let get Tempest eaten, the little storm wildly swung around his sword, getting quite a few hits on the mimic until it had enough and spew him out.
With the force Ornstein had used to pull Tempest, that meant that the both of them were practically falling on the ground, Tempest on top of him.
"Th.. thank you...", Tempest said. Ornstein could see how red his face was. Damn, his own face felt as red as the one of the little storm.
"I.. I just need you with both legs, that's all.", Ornstein said, head to the side, not having the courage to look the small Undead in the eyes.
"I, uh, better heal this wound.", Tempest said, getting up and limping away a few steps before taking a sip of his Estus. Ornstein was half aware that there was quite a bit of blood on his armour, where Tempest had landed.
It was a good thing that the Undead could heal themselves easily like this. Still, this must have been hurt.
"What about the mimic?", Ornstein asked, but his question was answered as he saw the mimic dissipating and leaving the item behind it had stored. He went to pick it up.
"A crystal shield.", he said, tossing it to Tempest. "I think we surely are on to something."
Tempest didn't react fast enough to catch the shield and dropped it. He quickly bent down to pick it up.
"So now what? Shall we search for books about crystals?"
"...I am more interested in the experiments Seath had planned. We should head back to the prison tower."
"Ugh.", Tempest didn't seem to be too keen about this. "I don't want to see this tentacle thingies again."
"The what?"
"There were these strange creatures, like half snake, half squid? Disgusting."
"Sounds like something Seath would do. Let's see if we can find the way back to the tower."
The next hour was spent trying to find the way through the giant library, dealing with the various crystal hollows, a lot of them archers, and two more channelers on the way. They also managed to pick up another twinkling titanite and a crystal sorcery on the way. After a short while the both of them already had enough of this place.
"I swear, when I got one more arrow stuck into me, I'll scream.", Tempest said after removing one of said errors and taking a sip of his estus, frowning as he saw how little of the orange liquid was left.
"At least you can heal yourself.", Ornstein said.
"Yes, but you are wearing full body armour."
"That doesn't mean that the arrows can't get stuck in the joints."
"You are still more protected than me."
"Why don't you just block the arrows with that shield of yours?"
"Oh yes, I would do that, when I could actually see where these things are coming from!"
Shrugging, Ornstein wandered farther: "Hm, just were was this balcony that led to the tower again... I knew that I completely missed it the first time..."
"Hey, there is a balcony, maybe it's there!", Tempest pointed into a room with his sword and then promptly was struck with another arrow.
Ornstein winced as the small Undead cried out an ear piercing scream in his anger, rushing into the room. A few sounds of fireballs thrown at a crystal later Tempest returned.
"This room leads down, you said the balcony to the tower led up."
Ornstein reached over wordlessly and pulled the arrow out of Tempest, who hissed in pain, sipping his estus. "Well, that was it with healing."
"Just put this shield of yours to good use.", Ornstein said, slightly annoyed. "Let's search for the right way."
A few rotating stair cases and two dead channelers later, Ornstein finally walked past the balcony he had searched. "I swear, this door looks super inconspicuous.", he murmured, scratching his lion helmet. "Let's go, little storm."
Said little storm, looking more than battered up, followed Ornstein and said, with his hands thrown in the air: "By the gods, finally. Up there is a bonfire! I really need this right now!"
On the way up, a couple of more crystal hollows stood in their way which were quickly dispatched by Ornstein's spear. Then, they stood in front of the massive door.
Which had been brutally blasted open and sadly squeaked in its hinges. "Oh right.", Ornstein scraped the ground with his foot.
"At least it saved me searching for the key.", Tempest grinned.
A few dead snake soldiers later they sat in the cell Tempest apparently had been locked into where the small Undead eagerly filled up his estus flask at the bonfire.
"I saw them at Sen's Fortress.", he said, pointing at the snake soldiers. "Why are they here too?"
"Seath's creations.", Ornstein answered. "He simply gave a few of them out for Lord Gwyn to use and he decided to use them in Sen's Fortress. This place was usually a training ground for the silver knights. And to be honest, little storm, I have no clue how you survived this place."
"I didn't survive it, I made it through it.", Tempest said. "I died a dozen times or more in there. It was a bit better once I made it out in the open. Even though fire suddenly rained from the skies. And then... I ran into one of the Astora elite knights."
"Hm? I am pretty sure Lord Gwyn never had any Astora elite knights in his army."
"No no no, that's not what I meant, this was an Undead like me, but hollow. I think. He attacked right away with a bow. And when I got close enough he had this super fast rapier. I actually died to him. And even worse, I missed the bonfire up there the first time so I had to cross the fortress another time!"
"Yes, it is pretty hidden.", Ornstein grinned under his helmet. The silver knights didn't had the ability came back. Anyone who couldn't run the gauntlet hadn't been cut out to be a silver knight.
Although, this place probably had become worse over the centuries.
"Well, I managed to find the bonfire the second time. Sometimes little notes appear on the ground and they helped me find it."
"Ah yes, the orange soapstone. Someone of another time left a note for you to find." Time in Lordran was convoluted and some special stones were able to exist through this convolution. As the little orange notes. Even Ornstein was able to lay them down, but without an army to lead there was no need to anymore.
"And then I went back to this guy. I died a few more times, but eventually I managed to overcome him and when I picked up his rapier, I recognized it. This was Ricard, the Undead Prince. It is said that he set out on his journey ages ago! Running into such a legend felt...special."
"I don't have a clue who you are talking about. I don't give much about human heroes or legends."
"Of course not, you are a legend yourself. Anyway, behind him there were a few chests, one contained a ring and one contained this."
Tempest produced a bottle with a shining liquid. Ornstein recognized it at once.
"A divine blessing... They have become rare nowadays. Actually, when you fought us, Smough and I were running out of them. Only one left... I left it in his grave."
"...Take it, Ornstein. I can heal up with my estus, but you can't. I am sure you can put it to good use." Tempest practically shoved the item into Ornstein's hand.
Ornstein eyed it for a few seconds, before shoving it back. "No, you take it. I can take care of myself. When I see how fast your estus depletes, you are the better choice to hold onto it."
Tempest stared from the divine blessing to Ornstein to the divine blessing again. "But...", he started.
"You said you were following my orders.", Ornstein threatened. Tempest winced and quickly stored the item back in his belongings.
"Now then, we have rested enough. We should move on.", Ornstein stood up, using his spear for support.
Tempest followed him: "Hm, when I was the first time here, there was this spooky tune playing, but I couldn't hear anything this time." He went to glance over the side of the landing they were one: "Probably a good thing, it made these tentacle thingies wild the last time."
Ornstein followed Tempest to look down too: "I guess this machine down there made the sound. Well, it seems we can descend freely now that it is off."
On their way down, Ornstein noticed the various cell doors: "Do you have a key to open them?"
"Yes.", Tempest pulled a key out of his pocket. "But I don't think we would find anything there. I only see Crystal Hollows." He poked one of them with his sword during the bars which promptly made the hollow groan and crash against the bars, making Tempest jump back. "Definitely prefer to not open them."
"Hollowed out prisoners are indeed of no help.", Ornstein said, glancing in every cell they came along their way down. Once they were at the bottom, Tempest pointed at an opening in the wall.
"There they are! The tentacle thingies!", he exclaimed. "Ew, all of them are at one place."
"...Let's just get this over with. I see a rather large cell behind them. Maybe we can find something in there.", Ornstein readied his spears.
For a few minutes the sound of lighting and thrown fireballs were heard as the two worked themselves through the creatures. After they were done, Tempest sipped on his estus (he had been grabbed once) and then bend down to pick something up.
"Miracles.", he said upon inspecting them.
"Let me see this.", Ornstein came nearer to take a look and gasped. "Seath, that bastard... I always assumed that he had been the one to abduct Princess Gwynevere's maidens. This is proof!"
"What are you talking about?", Tempest asked, confusion in his eyes.
"These miracles are granted by Lady Gwynevere herself. Bountiful Sunlight and Soothing Sunlight. Healing miracles that were often used by her or her maidens. But some of her maidens disappeared one day. We never could find them and now I know why, when they turned into this.."
Ornstein pointed at the burned and shocked mass of bodies in front of them. Tempest, however, didn't seem too listen. Instead, he had turned to the cell, shouting: "Logan?! You here?!"
Orstein turned around to listen in as a male voice answered: "Hello again. What a chance meeting this is!"
The voice belonged to an Undead sorcerer with a comical big hat. That wasn't his business. Probably someone Tempest had met on his travels through Lordran.
"Why is it that I always seem to find you behind bars?", Tempest chuckled.
That Logan guy smiled sadly: "Alas, I am imprisoned once again. I don't suppose you could stage me a getaway? I surely hope it isn't our fate to always meet when I am behind bars."
"Aw, come on, Logan, this place simply is dangerous. I myself needed help to get here.", he pointed at Ornstein.
"Oh, are you having a new companion?", Logan asked. Tempest had an awkward smile on his face.
"That is... kind of a long story. I am sure we can safe this for a later time."
This Logan guy didn't seem to recognize him. Ah well, Ornstein was more a legend among the knights and not a legend among the sorcerers.
"So, my dear friend, do you have a key that could help me out? The Archives, such a storehouse of knowledge. So close, but just out of reach! The thought offends me so, I could simply die! As a student of the arts, you understand me, yes?", Logan said.
"Hm, I have found a key, maybe it works here.", Tempest presented the cell key and tried to get it into the lock. "It doesn't work.", he noticed sadly. "Please don't die, Logan, I am sure we will find a way to get you out of here."
"You Undead can't die anyway.", Ornstein interfered and felt both gazes of the Undeads on him, shrinking a little, quickly changing the subject. "Hey, um, Logan was your name?", he started. "You said that you wanted to research the archives? Have you seen anything interesting, like a book or notes, before you got caught?" It was a blind guess, but the best Ornstein had. The sorcerer surely hadn't been snatched away and dragged to the archives before he entered them.
"Hmmmm... yes, indeed. I have seen a place worth investigating, but before I could set a foot into there myself, I was found and captured. A library next to the large room, there was a hollow archer and a ladder led down to it."
"Wait a moment! I have seen this place!", Tempest exclaimed, both hands clutching his gargoyle helmet. "You remember the archer I took out because I was done with getting struck with arrows? That room matches the description."
"Very well then, let's go there and see if we can find something.", Ornstein turned around.
"If you find a key, would you be so kind to come back and stage my getaway?", Logan asked. Tempest turned around and gave him an "Of course." with a smile. Ornstein only hmphed.
"Maybe I should open up the cells now, the key could be there...", Tempest muse.
"Why should a cell key be in another cell? That doesn't make any sense.", Ornstein grumbled. "Let's just search this library out. We are on a mission. Should we find the key by chance, we can go and free him."
Tempest nodded slowly: "Well, alright..."