Summary: The duo continues to explore the Painted World up until the very being Ornstein wanted to talk to is standing in front of them.
(Author's note: Ah, the second part of the Painted World chapter. This chapters are so long, but now I need to write some more first. I hope this chapter can bide you over until I am done with the next one!
Also, I received some lovely post/190960883814/aaaaah-oh-my-gawd-thank-you-so-much-its-soFanart from This-Organic-Corner on tumblr, please give it all a look and a reblog!)
Ornstein sat in silence while Tempest talked a bit more about his dream until he grew silent too.
"...Is this the reason why you got upset earlier? You thought that I didn't care about you?", Ornstein finally spoke up.
Tempest dangled his leg a bit more and then deeply sighed, rolling his shoulders before he replied:
"I guess I was just jealous. You had this great life and all these bonds and … everyone I once cared for got out of my reach when I turned undead and everyone I met and cared for here started to turn hollow left and right. I... I was hoping to be a part of your world."
Ornstein directed his gaze to the ground, into the seemingly bottomless pit they were currently seated above.
"Once... Once I would say I had a great life, but that is long over.", he said. "In fact... I wanted to give up. I was looking forward to die so when it didn't happen I was devastated."
"In other words, if you were Undead you would have gone hollow...", Tempest said, a shudder rippled through Ornstein's body. That analogy was rather accurate.
"I guess... you could see it like that.", he murmured. "I didn't want to live anymore, I wanted to give up everything but then...", Ornstein took a deep breath, "You came stumbling into the Dark Moon Tomb and... and after meeting you, I don't want to give up anymore... Maybe... seeing you struggle but still going on was...inspiring?"
"Funny.", Tempest said. "Because the reason I went into the grave was me almost giving up."
Ornstein gave Tempest a glance and the small Undead returned it.
"Maybe we both have picked each other up.", Ornstein said. "I am sorry that I made you feel bad... it's not that I don't care about you, but...", Ornstein sighed, averting his gaze once again. "It's complicated."
"It's fine.", Tempest said. "I am already glad that you told me this. Let's move on." He got up and walked into the house. Ornstein followed him as he took a look around, determining where they should go next.
"There is a door that leads outside.", Tempest pointed to it with his sword. He walked over to it and through the door. Ornstein stayed inside. He had to duck every time he wanted to use one of the doorways and it was starting to get on his back.
Tempest wasn't out there for long. "There seems to be nothing out there...", he murmured. "Besides a corpse on a string. Who would put up a decoration like that?" The sway of a sword was heard and a good while later a distant thud. "There, that's better.", Tempest said and came back into the house.
"Where to now?", Ornstein asked.
"Hm.", Tempest contemplated. "There are some stairs leading further up. Let's try them."
As they ascended the stairs Tempest said: "We already went up so many stairs. And there are still more. How high did they build this place?"
"Enough for a tower to be in the middle.", Ornstein replied. "Also, it wasn't build, it was painted."
"Oh yes, I forgot.", Tempest said. He frowned when another set of stairs showed up. "Again?", he complained but got cut short when a hollow ran down the stairs to attack. Tempest reacted wonderfully, Ornstein thought, as his sword fell the hollow in one swoop. Tempest continued to ascend the stairs, Ornstein following him. Up the stairs there was a little attic with one of these toxic hollows shuffling closer to them.
"Let me take care of it.", Ornstein said. Tempest stepped aside, knowing that Ornstein's longer weapon was better to deal with enemies where you should keep a certain range. Ornstein stabbed the hollow and both of them hold their breath until the putrid odor had disappeared.
"Seems to be a dead end.", Ornstein said, already turning around.
"Wait, there's something by the window." Before Ornstein could stop him Tempest had already jumped, misjudged the landing and staggered back on his feet after he had fell. He picked up whatever had piqued his interest and then stared down the window.
"Ornstein... there is a ladder leading down.", he said.
Ornstein jumped over the gap in one graceful motion and confirmed with his own eyes what the little Storm just had said.
"You first.", Ornstein said and grabbed the ladder once Tempest had slid it down. Once Ornstein arrived a the ground he saw that Tempest had stabbed another hollow.
"A sneaky one.", Tempest said. "Tried to attack me from behind."
"You are getting more and more reliable, little Storm.", Ornstein smiled and Tempest's face lit up.
They followed some stairs down until they arrived at another building. This time Ornstein ducked through the doorway to follow Tempest. He could only spot some rats and some furniture. He and Tempest dispatched the rats without trouble.
"Oh look, a chest.", Tempest said and pointed at it. There was – in fact – a chest Ornstein had confused for furniture earlier. Tempest took his sword and gave the chest a good smack before opening it.
"You are learning, little Storm.", Ornstein said.
"I got eaten one time too many.", Tempest said as he spread the contents of the chest on the table in the room. "Isn't that..."
"Yes.", Ornstein said, not needing for Tempest to finish the question. "The uniform of the Painting Guardians."
"But we haven't actually seen some of them in here.", Tempest mused.
"They may have hollowed beyond recognition.", Ornstein said. "Or just kept some backup clothes here, who knows."
Tempest shrugged and folded the uniform to put in his bag. He curiously eyed another door that would lead out of the building and went there, taking a look. After a short while he came back. "It's only a small yard, there isn't actually something there.", he said.
"I guess that means we should get back.", Ornstein suggested and Tempest nodded.
A short while later they were back in the house and left it through the last exit they hadn't explored yet. Straight in front of them was the tower Ornstein had mentioned earlier, but Tempest was more interested into something that was left of them.
"Do you see this?", Tempest pointed at a grey figure in the distant. "What is it?"
Ornstein narrowed his eyes as he looked at the grey figure. He had trouble figuring out what it was, but something in him told him he should have a bad feeling about it... "I don't know, but I don't trust it.", he said.
"I am going to check it out.", Tempest said, curiosity winning.
Ornstein's bad feeling still wouldn't leave him so he followed Tempest but stayed off the bridge leading to the grey figure, instead opted to wait on the ledge left to it.
"You aren't coming?", Tempest asked, already on the bridge.
"I have a bad feeling about this.", Ornstein growled at nothing in particular. "Be careful, little Storm."
Tempest nodded and got his sword and shield ready. But nothing could have prepared Ornstein for what did happen next. Tempest slowly approached the figure and once he was rather close that whole grey mass which hadn't moved at all earlier was coming to life and charged right at Tempest, who, in a desperate attempt to protect himself raised his shield but ultimately got hurled against the tower with a sickening crunch and then fell down, the snow around him getting tinted red.
Ornstein was torn between checking out Tempest... he was still there, he hadn't died and the freaking dragon on the bridge. Now he knew where his uneasy feeling had come from. They had imprisoned a a minor dragon into the Painted World and apparently it had managed to get a dose of the undead curse and turned into a rotten mass of flesh.
The good thing was, the dragon barely had any sanity and so it was stuck at the front of the bridge where it spew out a horrible smelling mass that surely was toxic.
Ornstein decided that he should check on the little Storm first and ran over to Tempest who laid unconscious on the ground, body bleeding and broken.
"That he didn't die of this attack, he's a lucky one.", Ornstein said as he removed the Estus Flask of Tempest's hips and gave him to drink, waiting for his swallowing reflex to get the liquid actually into his body.
After a few seconds Tempest eyes shot open and he coughed and wheezed. Ornstein offered him another sip of the Estus which he gratefully took. Ornstein watched fascinated as the wounds closed and the broken bones mended themselves.
"Ouch, that did hurt!", Tempest groaned and then his eyes widened even further when he saw the undead dragon on the bridge.
"Ornstein, what in the world is that?", he blurted out and Ornstein could see genuine fear in his face. Understandable, that thing had just flung him through the air and nearly killed him. While dying didn't mean the end for the Undead, Tempest had already expressed how much it hurt every single time.
"Undead dragon.", Orstein said. "In short, a dragon which caught itself a dose of the curse of the Undeath."
Tempest managed to get up, standing on wobbly feet. "I.. I think I have seen one of these elsewhere!"
"What, where?", Ornstein said but when another spew of toxic vomit landed on the ground in front of them, he turned around and said: "Let me take care of this rotten mass of flesh first, then we can talk."
Ornstein leaped directly on the head of the undead dragon and thrust his spear deep into it, so deep that the dragon screeched in pain and shortly after that collapsed, its whole body dissipating into soul power. Ornstein could feel how an amount got added to his own soul and could see how an amount was getting drawn to Tempest.
"That was awesome! You are so awesome, Ornstein!", Tempest cheered in the back before getting shaken by another coughing fit. Another sip of Estus seemed to fix that. Tempest came nearer to where the dragon had dissipated. "I can't believe you used to fight these things for a living."
"My title of dragon slayer is not there for naught.", Ornstein said, blushing a little bit. It had been so long since people had praised him for doing what he did best and.. hearing it from Tempest again and again made Ornstein feel a lot better about himself. "And you are alright, little Storm, not hurt anymore?"
"Yes, every damage is healed.", Tempest said, coming back on the bridge, exploring it now that the threat was gone. "And for what I have said earlier, where I have seen a thing like this. When I came back from Blighttown...", Ornstein made a face at the mention of the putrid swamp which Tempest of course couldn't see, "..I came through a valley and I explored it a bit and there was some things lying around and I wanted to take a look and then the corpse around them started moving and I got scared and ran away."
"This sounds very like you.", Ornstein said as Tempest walked along the bridge and picked up a few things. He would forever be a little hoarder. He then looked into the distance and took a few steps back.
"What is wrong?", Ornstein said and walked near Tempest who ducked behind Ornstein.
"I think there is another one...", Tempest said. Ornstein turned his head around and saw that there indeed was another grey mass of flesh, but...
He got closer and poked it with his spear. Nothing happened.
"Tsk, it's the bottom half.", he said. "That thing had already rotten enough to not be in one piece anymore. Without the head it is completely harmless."
Tempest, who hadn't stopped hiding between Ornstein breathed out in relief.
"Good.", he said. "Though... it kinda is blocking the way. I guess we have to find another."
"Then lead the way, little Storm.", Ornstein said, stepping aside and waiting for Tempest to step out of his shadow which he reluctantly did.
At the other end of the bridge Tempest headed left and entered what must be the tower they had seen earlier. There were stairs leading up and down. Tempest considered for a moment before he went up. Ornstein followed him without question.
Only a few steps up the stairs a corvian blocked their way. "Argh and there is nearly any room to fight.", Tempest cursed.
"Just knock them off.", Ornstein suggested, knowing that it was easier said as done as Tempest blocked her attacks and he quickly got a taste of it when another one of them appeared and pinched them. "Shoot.", he cursed, readying his spear.
The battle was short but intense and Ornstein managed to give the corvian a nasty gash in her wing which made her fall off the stairs and she didn't came flying back. He turned around to see how Tempest was doing. The small Undead did hold himself up but had a deep scratch in his arms, the corvian was riddled with wounds but nothing was serious.
Then she pulled back and while Tempest seemed to see it a chance, Ornstein shouted: "Watch out, little Storm." and pulled him out of the way before the corvian could land on him to peck his eyes out, instead colliding with the ground, screeching in pain.
"That was close, thanks.", Tempest said as Ornstein connected his spear with the corvian's head and then casually tossed her off the stairs.
"You might be able to heal yourself but that would still have hurt.", Ornstein said. Tempest continued up the stairs until they were at the very top. A lot of crows were hanging around a nest but flew away when they stepped nearer.
Tempest kneeled down and picked something up, then presenting the red shape to Ornstein: "What is that?"
"My, my! It's a red sign soapstone.", Ornstein said. "Haven't seen one of them in ages..."
"What are they used for?", Tempest asked.
"Hm, little Storm, you know about the white sign soapstone?", Ornstein asked.
Tempest nodded. "Yeah, that Solaire fellow was giving me one of these."
"These are similar. They summon your phantom to another place but not for help for a fight, but a duel so to speak.", Ornstein said. "Useful when you want to see how strong you are with all you have without like... actually dying. We used to summon each other as red phantoms to test our strength... Artorias and me I mean."
"Interesting.", Tempest said, mouth agape in awe. "I never knew you could use these things!"
"It has been a long time.", Ornstein said. "...But say, little Storm, you said you have a white sign soapstone?"
"Um, yes.", Tempest nodded.
"Doesn't that mean that other Undead are providing their aid? Why didn't you ask them for help?"
"Um...", Tempest said, his face turning a bit red. "The thing is... I never saw them. I think you can only see them when you are not hollowed out and I died so much... besides... I rarely could see them around the bonfires. I would have really needed some help to get to the actual guardians of the bells..."
He grew silent again and then asked: "Wait, Ornstein, does that mean you have a soapstone like this?"
"Um, well...", Ornstein said, thinking about the time where he had let himself summoned to help with dragon attacks too far away. He always had given his glowing gold summon sign to anyone who needed his help and then it was passed to the next village. And each successful attempt rewarded him with a shiny golden medal.. proof that he put his faith into his master.
But then... the master had turned traitor and Ornstein had never used his summon sign again, stuffing the last few sun light medals into a random chest in Anor Londo.
"That doesn't matter at the moment, I am here to help you in person, right?", Ornstein said, not wanting to dwell in these bad memories.
"And I am very glad about that.", Tempest said, pocketing the red sign soapstone. Ornstein could hardly imagine the little Storm into a duel and chuckled to himself as they descended the tower, thinking about in which kind of chaos he would get himself into.
"What put you into such a happy mood?", Tempest grumbled.
"Oh, nothing.", Ornstein said and toned the chuckle down while still grinning to himself, gladly hidden by his helmet.
After a good while of walking the both of them arrived a the bottom of the tower.
"So what was the point of going up all these stairs only to go down again?", Tempest asked, taking a look around. He briskly walked to the only door in the room and tried the handle but it wouldn't budge.
"The fog gate it is then.", Tempest said warily. Ornstein knew why. Behind fog gates there often was a powerful foe. Tempest closed his eyes and braced himself as he walked through the fog gate, shuddering at the strange sensation on his skin. When he opened them again he overlooked some yard and in the middle of the yard was...
"What in the world is that, Ornstein?", Tempest asked, pointing to the mass of bodies, spears and shields.
"Looks like one of Seath's failed experiments.", Ornstein mused. The way the bodies were lined up reminded him of of a phalanx formation, the spear silver knights had been very good at taking this in. "I would mostly compare that to a phalanx formation, one that has gone horribly wrong. Shall we take care of them?"
Tempest gave Ornstein a nod and then the both of them charged forward. The good thing about these bodies was that they were slow, the bad thing was that there were many of them. Every time Ornstein took one of them down another seemed to take its place and he could see Tempest struggling besides him, receiving a nasty wound from a thrown spear and drinking from his Estus once in a while.
The battle felt like it lasted over five minutes but then finally the last of them fell. Tempest tried to drink from his Estus flask and then turned it around, peeking into it with one eye only to confirm that it was empty.
"Well, great. And no bonfire in sight.", he sighed and counted his humanities, frowning at them. He wasn't keen on having to use them to heal himself.
"So where should we head?", Ornstein asked. Tempest looked around. To the left he spotted some stairs, to the right a room with pillars and straight in front of them was another big door. Hm, the door looked familiar. Tempest walked over and it let itself push open. His eyes grew wide when he saw the familiar glimmer of the bonfire.
"Oh yes, that is exactly what I needed right now!", he said and rushed to sit at the bonfire, eagerly filling up his Estus flask. Ornstein followed him and saw how he burned some humanity in the fire, making the flame glow brighter.
"I am glad you have your Estus flask filled up, but that also means that the phalanx formation will be back.", Ornstein said. That resting at bonfires prompted every Undead around the Bonfire to come back was one of the things he didn't understand... it was just natural to Lordran.
"Oh right.", Tempest sighed. "Oh well, we will be able to take on it again. Besides, it gave quite a few souls." Ornstein watched with interest as Tempest offered some souls to the bonfire in exchange for soul power. He never could choose what he wanted, for him the soul power just got added to his own and he had to train his body to see an effect.
For Undead it was different. After Tempest was done with feeding souls to the bonfire he stood up and grabbed his weapons. "Let's go back there!", he said. "From a logical standpoint, we should be done with exploring this place soon!"
"Lead the way, little Storm.", Ornstein said and followed Tempest as he rushed off and locked the phalanx into another fight, this time only needing one sip of Estus. Like usual, the little Storm was extremely adaptable and learned with every mistake he made. It also had been the way he had managed to beat him and Smough after countless tries.
After the Phalanx was an unmoving mass of flesh and shield and spears again (not that it hadn't been that earlier, but at least now it wasn't moving), Tempest took another look around and went to the room with the pillars. Ornstein followed him and spotted a door. Tempest walked over and tried it.
"Locked.", he said. "Then let's head to the other side first."
Ornstein followed as Tempest fleet-footed scuttled through the snow and climbed up some stairs. "Stairs again.", he muttered. "I hope they don't plan on sending us up and up and up again."
"I take that you don't take kindly to the stairs in this place.", Ornstein said.
"I don't want to see stairs ever again for a whole week after we are done here!", Tempest shouted. To his surprise, after they had climbed the stairs the next stairs let down. "Oh, nevermind.", he said and headed to the stairs but stopped when he saw a path to the left: "Let's take a look outside."
The stairs led to a path which was guarded by some hollows. Tempest cut down the one carrying the torch while Ornstein cut down the regular one. Tempest then walked further until he kneeled down to pick something up. Ornstein silently watched as he saw two more hollows climb up from the walls and then wordlessly stabbed them both at once with his spear.
Tempest looked around in surprise when Ornstein moved and just shrugged when he saw the two corpses. "It appears this was a dead end.", he said.
They headed back to the stairs that led downwards but Tempest didn't go down them but instead stared down.
"What's wrong, little Storm?", Ornstein asked.
"I don't like the aura radiating from this place.", Tempest said. "It looks dark and I don't want to know what kind of horrors are down there. Yet. Let's explore the yard instead."
"Your choice.", Ornstein said and stepped aside so that Tempest could go past him.
Ornstein asked himself what was that interesting at the yard, so far all he could see were a lot of corpses on sticks. "I actually ask myself who executed them all.", he said to Tempest as he inspected the rather gruesome sight.
"I don't know and I don't want to know.", Tempest said and got into a battle stance when he saw a hollow carrying a torch stumbling up the stairs. "Careful, there is another one!", he whispered to Ornstein as the first one attacked and got stabbed with Tempest's sword. Ornstein took the other down with one swipe of his weapon.
"There is another one!", Tempest pointed in the distance and stormed off. Ornstein sighed and slowly followed him, not being surprised in the slightest when the little Storm got caught in a pincer attack by two hollows. Even though their weapons were hardly sharp, it still caused enough damage for Tempest to fumble for his Estus flask while Ornstein took care of every hollow who dared to try and approach him.
"There seems to be nothing of interest here.", Ornstein said, walking up to the ledge, they seemed to have reached the border of the Painted World. He looked down but couldn't make anything out.
"You are right, there are just a few souls lying around.", Tempest said, picking them up regardless. He froze for a brief moment when he bend down the third time and looked back over his shoulder, confirming the sound he had just heard.
"Ornstein, there is an invader!", he quickly sputtered out, sounding strangely amused, prompting the dragon slayer to turn around, hardly able to contain his laughter.
"What kind of headwear is THAT?!", Ornstein said. It could only be called ridiculous. The invader was clad in light armour, probably a mage, and this wasn't looking too out of the ordinary, if not for the headwear that made them look like an oversized mushroom.
Both Tempest and Ornstein stopped laughing when they readied a pyromancy flame and fire pillars shot out of the ground, nearly roasting them both alive.
"Well, we have an advanced pyromancer here.", Ornstein hissed. Of course it had to be his weakness, he never had been good with handling fire since the dragon war ended.
"Stay back, Ornstein, I will stagger them and you finish it!", Tempest said, rushing forward, swinging his sword and managing to get a good hit on the phantom before their next spell was completed. They back stepped and readied a whip, Ornstein could hear Tempest cry out in pain when he was hit with it, but the little Storm rallied himself up and gave the phantom another heavy slash, enough for them to stagger. Ornstein used the opportunity to leap over and finish the job, the distinct sound of an Undead vanishing resonated.
"That would have been nasty if they would have been able to use their pyromancy without trouble. That was a good plan, little Storm.", he said.
"You praising me? What is it, my birthday?", Tempest said jokingly but his face blushed at the compliment. He collected the left over humanity of the phantom and picked up their weapon that for some strange reason hadn't left with their phantom.
"I think we probably can leave this place and go elsewhere.", Ornstein suggested but Tempest had his eyes on the ground, following something that Ornstein couldn't see. After a a short while he rounded a corner and came back with a scroll.
"How did you know there would be magic hidden there?", Ornstein said.
"A message told me.", Tempest said.
"Oh.", Ornstein said, "The orange guidance soap stone. Help from another world."
Tempest nodded with a bright smile: "It's pyromancy I've never seen before."
"Be careful with it, this place was used to get rid of anything that was deemed dangerous.", Ornstein said. "Maybe speak to a specialist first before you use it."
"Alright. I will show it to Laurentius the next time we stop at Fire Link.", Tempest said and headed back to where the now dead phalanx was lying around. He looked around, determining which path to go next and headed to a small graveyard arena.
"There are graves here so people died before they became undead.", he said.
"Or they all came back to life and these are the hollows we are seeing here.", Ornstein said.
"Possible.", Tempest said and headed into the direction of what was looking like a well. He stopped in front of it and looked down. "I don't like this, it looks dark and scary.", he said.
"We have been to the catacombs and the Tomb of Giants, it surely was darker and scarier there.", Ornstein scoffed as he shoved Tempest down the well, who gave out a surprised cry. A heavy thud and a sip of Estus later Ornstein followed him, landing on both of his feet without trouble like usual.
"You just have waited for your chance to do this again.", Tempest grumbled.
"Possible.", Ornstein grinned.
Down the well there actually was a path. "Normally wells don't look like this.", Ornstein said. Tempest did a few steps forward then stopped.
"Do you hear this?"
"Hear what?"
"A sound like... something clattering or moving at a high speed?"
Ornstein shrugged and then both of them flinched when a bonewheel rushed past them.
"Oh please nooo.", Tempest said, both hands going up to hold his head.
"And this time we don't have the height advantage.", Ornstein said. "Ready your pyromancy, little Storm, we take them from afar."
"Them?", Tempest said, eyes growing wide.
"Listen, skeletons never come alone.", Ornstein sighed.
After Tempest had readied his pyromancy flame he peeked around the corner which prompted the bonewheel to attack. A fireball and a lighting spear later it was only a charred mass of ash and bones on the ground.
"This looks like a maze...", Ornstein said. "Go first, little Storm, you can heal yourself up when a bonewheel hits you."
"That doesn't mean that it hurts less.", Tempest said but took the lead anyway, knowing that Ornstein was right.
The only way to go was left until they had a strange wall.
"I guess we have to go ano...", Tempest started and stared in awe when Ornstein just punched the wall and it vanished.
"I knew it. That wall looked far too phoney to be real.", he said in a triumphant voice.
"Well, I guess that answers the question where to go.", Tempest said. They followed the path further, taking out another bonewheel in the process which almost managed to shred Tempest into little pieces and then reached a dead end after another fake wall was unveiled.
Something glistened into the water. Tempest picked it up. "A key.", he said.
"Maybe it is for the locked door we saw earlier?", Ornstein suggested.
"Let's check it out later.", Tempest said and turned around, the both of them once again navigating the maze, taking care of every bonewheel in the way until they found some stairs going up.
"Huh, I was expecting a lot but not stairs down here.", Tempest said, ascending them. The only thing in the room in front of them was a toxic hollow. One that didn't even attack.
"What the...?", Tempest said, going around the hollow and even poking it. "It's nice to see that they are not aggressive for once."
"It looks like it is holding something.", Ornstein said. Tempest went to take a look which made the hollow aggressive all of a sudden. A stabbing and a coughing later because the putrid smell filled the room, Tempest picked up another pyromancy scroll. "Definitely going to talk to Laurentius about it.", he wheezed, wiping tears from his eyes.
Back in the maze they nearly got themselves lost until Ornstein unveiled a fake wall that led into a far larger room. After the claustrophobic feel of the maze it was a nice change.
That feeling changed once Tempest heard the clattering sound of what only could be another bonewheel. With a sigh he pressed himself against the wall and just said: "Bonewheel." to Ornstein who did the same.
The bonewheel managed to race right through the space the both of them had created and once it got up searching for where its prey had gone a sword and a spear simultaneously hit its skull and it didn't get up again.
"There are surely more in the large room.", Ornstein murmured. "We should try to lure them out one by one. Little Storm?"
Tempest nodded with another sigh. He knew he was the obvious choice for being the decoy with him not being able to die and stuff and he didn't want to know how long it would take for Ornstein to heal when he would get hit with that razor sharp blades. Though the thought of nursing Ornstein back to health and feeding him soup when he couldn't move was intriguing. But, for now Tempest preferred Ornstein well and healthy, so he grabbed his sword, lighted his pyromancy flame and sneaked out into the room.
His eyes had gotten used to the dark enough so that he could count them. One, two, three, four, five. Five of them! Damn, he couldn't make a mistake or he would be in trouble. And probably back at the bonfire.
It was good that there were a few pillars in the room. Tempest used them to hide and one by one managed to lure the bonewheels near the maze where Ornstein waited and took them down with his charged spear.
Once the last bonewheel had fallen Ornstein stepped out in the room and Tempest looked down, the floor was filled with swallow, which made sense, they had gotten into a well.
"Um, Ornstein.", Tempest started. "Wouldn't it have been possible to get all of them at once by shocking the water with your spear?"
"That would have hit you too, little Storm.", Ornstein said. "And me. My armour may protect against lightning, but a full on shock I still would have suffered."
"Oh.", Tempest said, feeling a bit stupid. He had thought this stuff would have been easier, but Ornstein had a very good point.
"I surely hope coming down here was worth it.", Ornstein said. "Have you found anything?"
"I haven't looked yet.", Tempest said. "But I will now."
The small Undead gave the room a thorough searching. He picked up some souls from the ground and then stopped in front of a handle. "This is bound to open something.", he said and turned it. Nothing happened in the well but the both of them heard a sound coming from above. It sounded like something heavy had gotten shifted around.
"It certainly has done something up above.", Ornstein said. "I guess that means we can leave this place. Good. My feet are wet and cold and the harsh climate outside doesn't make it better."
"Yeah, let's go.", Tempest said and headed to the opposite end of the room where he spotted a ladder. After they had both climbed it, Tempest stopped and got some cloth out which he handed Ornstein. "To dry your feet.", he said as he got rid of his boots to do the same.
"How considerate, little Storm.", Ornstein said and worked on getting his sabatons off.
"I don't want you to get a cold. You can get a cold, can't you?", Tempest said. He himself hadn't gotten sick since he turned undead and even if would happen, Estus probably would be able to heal it without trouble.
"I can and I prefer not to have one.", Ornstein confirmed for him. After Tempest had dried his own feet off and wrung out the water from his boots he glanced at Ornstein who spend a minute to dry his sabatons before putting them back on.
Once he was done, Tempest jumped up and walked back into the yard. A glance into the tower told him that the large wooden door had opened. "The handle has opened something.", he said. Ornstein stood in front of the statue that was standing in the middle of the yard.
"Hasn't this statue faced the other way earlier?", he asked.
Tempest shrugged. He hadn't paid attention to the statue at all, he had been too busy to fight off the phalanx.
"So little Storm, are we going there or not?", Ornstein asked.
Tempest shook his head, too late realizing that Ornstein hadn't asked a yes or no question but managed to present the key from earlier before the dragon slayer could question him. "I would like to find out if this key opens the locked door first."
"Very well.", Ornstein said.
The key clicked in place and the wooden door swung open only to reveal... "Stairs again?!", Tempest cried out and begrudgingly followed them with Ornstein staying close to him. It took only a short while for a toxic hollow to run up to them. Tempest stepped to the side so that Ornstein's far longer weapon could take care of it.
"I have to thank you for taking care of this obnoxious task.", Tempest said.
"It's fine.", Ornstein said. "It is oddly satisfying to make them pop."
Tempest wrinkled his nose and followed the next flight of stairs, another toxic hollow was standing there, this time up above and shooting pyromancy. "Ugh, of course.", Tempest said and reached for his bow, firing an arrow right in the middle of the hollow's swollen head.
"You are right, this is oddly satisfying.", Tempest grinned, facing Ornstein as he walked up the rest of the stairs.
"Told you so.", Ornstein said and then shifted his stance, growling: "Little Storm, corvian behind you."
"Wha..?", Tempest said and got a clean kick into the face before he had fully registered what had happened. "Ouch.", he rubbed his chin as he brandished his sword and together with Ornstein's far more coordinated attack it fell.
It seemed like they had been run into another dead end. There was a huge hole in the ground which Tempest looked down and then threw a prism stone down. The following loud bang was enough to tell them that this fall would be deadly.
"Hm, there is another one of these bird woman up there.", Tempest said, pointing to the roof.
"They are called corvians.", Ornstein said, readying his spear and following Tempest who already had stormed up to take the corvian by surprise. Only to be taken by surprise by them because that whole situation had very much been a trap.
"I should have seen this coming...", Ornstein said, a bit embarrassed that he hadn't seen through the trap as Tempest laid on the ground from being kicked by three of the corvians at once. He leapt into them and made his spear sparkle to give the little Storm some breathing room. Tempest used the opportunity to heal his wounds with a sip of Estus.
"That was mean.", he growled as got up and engaged one of them into battle while Ornstein fended off two of them at once. After Ornstein had made sure to injure their wings they weren't that dangerous anymore and dead soon and when he turned around to help the little Storm he saw that he had learned from him and cut the wings of his foe too. With his shield he managed to block the attacks and then staggered it with a beautiful combo of his sword. One that Ornstein had taught him.
"Remind me to not run into such an obvious trap anymore.", Tempest said, his face flushing red, if anger or embarrassment Ornstein didn't knew.
"I remind you all the time to not storm off.", Ornstein said.
"I hope coming up here was worth it.", Tempest said and picked something up, a scroll. "It's a miracle.", he said a few moments later. "Can you take a look?"
Ornstein stepped closer to read the text on the scroll. He shuddered a bit when he realized just whose miracle it was. "I haven't seen art of her in a long time... the goddess of sin, Velka.", he murmured. "Lord Gwyn didn't like her very much and so it doesn't surprise me that her miracles have been banned to his place."
"What does it do?", Tempest asked.
"In short, if you use this miracle, no magic can be used around a certain area for a limited while.", Ornstein said. "You probably guess why Lord Gwyn didn't like Velka very much."
Tempest simply nodded and hopped down the stairs, Ornstein followed him. Instead of going back to the yard however, Tempest followed another little path where two other toxic hollows resided. Tempest missed the shot with his bow for the first one so that Ornstein took care of it but managed to pop the second one just fine.
"If I would have known how fun this is I would have fought more than just the two at the beginning.", he murmured.
"Be glad that I gave you the tip to stay away from them. I don't want to know how it feels when you accidentally breath in their toxins.", Ornstein said.
In the small yard they were there was only a statue... at closer inspection it was a blacksmith, petrified. Tempest picked up something that he hold in his hands. A very unusual ember. Ornstein shuddered when he saw it.
"Of course a blacksmith using this ember would be banished...", he whispered.
"What is so bad about this ember?", Tempest asked. "I agree it looks unusual, but it feels warm and... familiar."
"Of course it would feel fine for you, that thing is from occult nature. A dark ember. And well, you have a dark soul."
"Huh.", Tempest said, pocketing the ember. "I will give this to Andre later."
Tempest followed the path they had come back but then stopped, leaning against the wall made of wooden planks. "Phew, I hope we are out of here soon, I just start to realize how exhausting this whole trip is."
"And that says the one who is Undead and doesn't need to eat or drink.", Ornstein said.
"Hey, I can still get muscle cramps.", Tempest complained and before he could say something else the wooden boards smashed under his "weight" and he fell down with them.
"Ouch...", Tempest said and got up, presenting a weapon when he came back to Ornstein. "I found this when I fell."
"Hm, pretty sure that some of the hollows here once has been a pardoner of Velka now...", Ornstein said, inspecting the rapier. "The miracle, the typical weapon for her followers..."
"There is some history in this painting.", Tempest whispered.
"Whatever it was, it doesn't matter anymore. Now they are all hollow.", Ornstein said. "Let's finally find the one he came here for, little Storm."
"Alright.", Tempest put the rapier into his bag and the both of them made the trek to the now open door in the tower. A large bridge was seen. At closer inspection, two hollows and a large knight guarded it.
"That is all?", Tempest said. "I thought a bridge like this would be guarded better."
Tempest was off before Ornstein could say: "Wait, little Storm." and of course said little Storm was getting quickly overwhelmed by the now very obvious trap.
Ornstein sighed and rushed in to help him, taking two hollows down at once and pinning one under his foot as another one attacked. It gave Tempest enough time to drink from his Estus and get up.
"I thought I told you to remind me to not run into traps anymore.", Tempest grumbled.
"I thought I told you not to storm off all the time.", Ornstein retorted as Tempest got rid of one of the sharpshooters with an angry yell.
Soon all the hollows were down and only the large knight remained.
"He looks like the one in the Undead Parish.", Tempest said. "Parry should do the trick, but I could never find a way to counterattack."
"That is a knight of Berenike.", Ornstein said. "Huge for humans like you see. They can be described as literal walls. But together we should be able to take him down easily."
"Alright, I'll go first.", Tempest said as the knight noticed them and turned around with his big sword raised.
All the training surely paid off because Tempest managed to easily parry the blow of the massive sword which made Ornstein able to get a good hit in once the knight was staggered, but not enough to actually take it down. One repeat of that process later it collapsed to the ground and now the way to a fog gate was free.
"This must be it...", Ornstein said. "I can feel her presence..."
"I am so excited.", Tempest said and crossed the fog gate, Ornstein followed him after a few seconds, he still needed to steel himself.
The sight Tempest saw in front of him he could only describe as... beautiful. And HUGE. The woman in front of him was easily thrice his size (and he thought Ornstein was tall) and was wearing a fur coat in all white and was that a fluffy tail?! She also was possessing long white hair and her skin looked as delicate as the snow around her if not for the horns and scales dotting her face. In her hands she was holding the largest scythe he had ever seen.
She noticed his presence and turned around, speaking in a soft and gentle voice: "Who art thou? One of us, thou art not. If thou hast misstepped into this world, plunge down from the plank, and hurry home. If thou seekest I, thine desires shall be requited not."
"I, uh...", Tempest stuttered. "My friend wanted to talk to you."
He stepped aside to let Ornstein through who hadn't uttered a single thing once the woman had spoken.
"Priscilla.", Ornstein said.
"Dragon Slayer.", Priscilla said. "Thou art not having any business here."
"I've...", Ornstein started, searching for words. "I've come to free you from this place. You have been greatly wronged by the gods of Anor Londo and the last one of them wishes to undo what their father has done to you."
"I have no desire to come with thee.", Priscilla said, her voice had turned from the gentle and pleading tone into something that was pure ice.
"But... why?", Ornstein said, clearly having expected a different answer.
"This land is peaceful, its inhabitants kind.", Priscilla said and Tempest cocked his head until he had eye contact with Ornstein. He hadn't found a single kind inhabitant in this place chuck full of Hollows. "And thou dost not belong, Dragon Slayer, as well as thine friend."
Tempest pointed to him, saying: "Who, me?", but got shut down by Ornstein.
"Are you absolutely sure?", he asked. "Anor Londo has changed. The ones who have imprisoned you aren't there anymore. The war has been long over."
"Tell me, Dragon Slayer.", Priscilla spoke again, "Is there a single dragon left?"
Ornstein didn't answer but instead looked down at the ground.
"The world outside has no room for me as the world in here has no room for thee.", Priscilla said. "I beg of thee, plunge down from the plank and hurry home."
"Even when I tell you that your sibling is still out there?", Ornstein said. Priscilla's eyes turned wide but then she averted her gaze.
"I cannot leave this place.", he whispered. "It's... they need me. Please leave me alone and hurry home. And... take care of mine sibling..."
"Very well.", Ornstein said. "At least nobody can say from us that we haven't tried." Without another word he walked over the plunge Priscilla had spoken off. Tempest followed him, eyeing a corpse that laid there. Wasn't that that ridiculous headwear of the invader...?
"Wait.", Ornstein turned around when Priscilla's voice sounded another time.
"What is it?", he asked.
"Mine father... how is he?"
Ornstein and Tempest both looked at each other and then awkwardly every where but at Priscilla. It was Ornstein who spoke next: "I am sorry, but... he had to be laid down. He had gotten mad and had become a danger for everyone including himself."
Tempest was thinking about speaking up, wasn't the truth that he had needed his soul for the lord vessel but decided against it. It seemed to be Ornstein's way to deliver a harsh truth... with a comforting lie.
"I... see.", Priscilla said and turned around. "I thank thee for telling me."
Priscilla didn't spoke again and Ornstein turned around too. Tempest had fallen on his knees and inspected the fall. "There is no way we will survive this fall.", he said.
"You will.", Ornstein said and pushed Tempest down who yelped in surprise before taking the jump himself.
When Tempest came to himself, they were outside of the painting, back in Anor Londo.
"..That felt like a big waste of time.", Tempest said.
"I wouldn't say that.", Ornstein said. "At least I could give her some closure."
"At least...", Tempest said, looking back at the painting, asking himself just how many beings had to suffer like Priscilla just because one god had decided to start a war.
(Author's note: Ancient english is hard! When I made a mistake please tell me so that I can correct it.
I have a few specific headcanons about the knights of Gwyn having used soap stones, mostly because Sif has a freaking summon sign in Manus boss room. When Sif had one, than surely Artorias had one. And Ornstein too.)