Parry. Parry. Parry. Riposte!
I lurched forward at Melina in a poor attempt at a thrust. She easily warded off my attack and stood there as I tried to catch my breath.
My practicing with Melina was going lousy. I just couldn't seem to get anything right. My footwork was all off, my thrusts were missing, and I could barely block Melina when she was going easy on me.
"Dost thou need a rest?" she asked, holding her practice sword casually at her side.
"I dunno, maybe?" I was at my knees, using my sword to hold up my body so I didn't collapse to the ground.
"Thou does not have to be facetious."
"I want to keep going," I told her, "I need to get better."
"If thou keep going, thou will injure thyself. It is best for thy development to take rests and grow a little at a time."
"But," I protested, "But I need to."
"Thou art trying to acquire skills that take years to gain mastery in. No matter who is thy mentor, these abilities will not come easy. So rest, Tarnished."
I listened to her.
A few days ago, we had descended down Stormhill to find somewhere quiet where Melina could begin teaching me the art of battle. I had taken off my chainmail armor in exchange for a lighter, breezier tunic that Melina provided. It made me feel more in touch with the Lands Between in an odd way.
I was trying to build my strength and refine my technique but I was making little progress and still was not ready to face Margit again. I reflected on the way he toyed around with me. He made sure to make a fool of me, to disgrace me. How could I ever match him? A low human up against a fell omen as Melina called him.
Melina was still wearing her dark hood under the bright sun. How she was not sweating in that was beyond me. I went up behind her and whimsically pulled her hood down revealing her distinguished face as she looked at me in surprise.
"What art thou doing?"
"I just wanted to ask if there's anything I should do in the meantime. If I'm not going to be training, I want to do something else."
"Thou could always go exploring," she said, "The Lands Between art still a mystery to thee. It would be sensible to discover more. I will be thy guide."
"You're right," I said, "But I don't want to go far. I'll just go a distance that I can walk because everyone seems to want to kill me."
"It is a certain consequence that comes with being a Tarnished."
"Can you finally explain to me what that means? It sounds really important as it is apparently something that everyone can identify me by."
"Tarnished are those who the Erdtree has refused to bless for unknown reasons. You've lost grace. Therefore, all Tarnished are looked down upon and were cast away out of the Lands Between a long time ago."
"Wow, that's sad," I said, "But how come I can see grace if I lost it?"
"After the Shattering, the war that sparked after Queen Marika destroyed the Elden ring, the Greater Will has called thee back to the Lands Between to unite the shards."
"I feel like Tarnished are getting cheated in a deal."
Melina nodded.
"I mean, come on," I said, "You said before that the Elden Ring gave rise to the Erdtree which refused to bless the Tarnished and now wants us to come back and help it after it was the reason we were cast out in the first place?"
"Injustice runs throughout the Lands Between," Melina stated, "It is a sad sight. I have seen much of it."
"I'm glad you're on my side and not against me."
"Of course," she said politely.
We walked apart from the main road that led up Stormhill because many guards patrolled the place. As soon as we descended only a little, a heavy rain came in and soon, I was soaked.
"My hood does come in handy here," Melina said.
"Yeah, maybe I spoke too soon," I replied. A chill encapsulated my entire body as the wind blew by. Stormhill was a befitting name.
"Take my hood, Tarnished."
I looked over to her bewildered, "Oh, I could never!"
"You'll get ill otherwise."
"I always forgot my jacket as a kid. I've built up an immunity to the cold." I don't think that's how sickness works but I just said it as an excuse.
Melina just looked even more confused as if completely confounded by my response. It was either she was thinking that she never thought of that before or that my answer was completely stupid. Probably the latter.
"I want to know more about your world," Melina said, "Earth you called it."
"Oh, it's very different from the Lands Between. However, similar in all the wrong ways," I said, "We don't have magic, we're past the age of arrows and steel and have gotten onto far more dangerous weapons."
"More dangerous?"
"Yeah, I suppose. We have things called guns. They're like your bow and arrows, projectile weapons, but imagine a machine that could fire small ingots of steel a thousand times per minute."
She nodded, pondering on the new information. Melina had a scholarly countenance, looking as if in deep thought most of the time. There was something captivating about it. The practical wisdom she possessed was charming in a way.
"Is that all?" she asked.
"Well, if you were to ask me what the most dangerous thing was, we have these things called atom bombs that can destroy entire cities way bigger than Stormveil and no one will be able to return to that land for a while because of the radiation."
"The thought provokes unspeakable images in my mind."
"They should, they're scary," I said, "But your world has no end to its supply of scary things as well. So I guess some things are universal, right?"
"Darkness is found wherever you go. I hope one day to find the place where there is only light."
"Me too," I said, "But my world's not all bad."
"Tell me of the good."
"I would but I haven't really done much in all my life," I said, "I spent most of my time just trying to get by. There was no peace for me. So I guess I never really experienced much of my world."
"It is a mystery as to why the Greater Will called thee here," Melina said, "A Tarnished from a different world entirely. You are a unique breed, the only one of your kind as far as I know."
"Thanks, I feel so special," I replied sarcastically.
"Thou will see thy world again soon. Thou need only persevere through the trials thou have lying in wait for thee."
Our conversation went on. I was talking to Melina about Earth. She was a great listener. Melina let me ramble on a bit about what my home was like. We talked about history, my family, my job, and marine biology… wait, how did we get to that? Our stupid conversation… well, actually, my stupid topics and her hilariously confused responses continued for a good few minutes until we stopped.
What we saw was a half-destroyed shack that had been torn apart by the tremendous downpour. Small branches that were torn off trees hit the loose cobblestone of the small house. There was a quaint little wooden fence around the area. Inside the shack, I saw the light of a campfire.
I looked at Melina. She ushered me to get behind her. I followed what she said. We moved in on the house and I felt dumb for not having a blade. The one I had previously was in such bad condition that it actually snapped after my "battle" with Margit. The only other one I had was my wooden practice sword.
I peeked into the shack to see a woman despondently sitting on the ground leaning against a barrel. She was wearing a white, long-sleeved garb and also a crimson cape and hood that was comparable to Red Riding Hood from the fairy tales.
She looked vulnerable using her arms to hug herself in a vain attempt at comfort. Her head was bowed, obscuring her face from my sight. Loose strands of gold hair were visible, however.
Melina and I stepped closer and her head snapped up to see us.
"Who are you?!" Her voice was shaky and frail. The panic in her eyes was easily seen and her lips were quivering.
"Oh, don't be scared," I said, putting my hands up to calm her down, "I'm Nathaniel. This is my maiden, Melina. Uh, why are you here in this destroyed shack? There are safer places than this."
Her eyes took on a darker, more hopeless hue. "E-e-everyone's been grafted," she stuttered, "All those who followed me, those who fought for me, grafted. They had their arms taken, their legs taken, and even their heads. All of those pieces were stuck onto the spider."
I whispered to Melina, "Do you know what she's talking about?"
She nodded and said to the mystery girl, "I presume thou art speaking of Godrick the Grafted."
The woman slowly nodded. I thought back on that time I got killed by those soldiers of Godrick right before trying to defeat Margit. They said that Godrick had a use for my arms.
"Wait," I said, "Does that mean Godrick takes the limbs of people and 'grafts' them onto his own body? Is that what his name really meant all along?"
Melina's silence was all I needed as an answer.
It was revolting. I could hardly think of such a thing that could only come out of the mind of a mad person. A true spider of human arms and legs. Grafting inherently sounded like a foul practice.
"You do not know of what Godrick does?" the blonde woman asked, "Yet, it seems you are trying to get into Stormveil."
"It's complicated," I told her.
"Well, that makes us two peas in a pod," she said, "But I don't have your courage. I'm nothing but a craven."
My courage? She must mistake me for being brave. Just because I have to do this doesn't mean I'm not terrified out of my mind.
The woman said, "It's scary, you know. Having your arms chopped off or your head." Please, if anyone knew just how fear-inducing that prospect was, it was probably me.
I looked at Melina and she looked back at me. No matter how much she tried to hide it, I could see that she wanted to help this person.
I looked back at the woman and asked, "What's your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner," she apologized, "My name is Roderika, the foolish Tarnished who brought her men here to die." Roderika looked ashamed and guilty most of all. The weight of being responsible for men who died in battle must be soul crushing.
"You're Tarnished too?" I asked her.
"Yes, I came here across the sea in hopes of taking the Great Rune of Godrick. Oh, how ignorant I was." Tears trickled down her cheeks as despair began enveloping her. "It was only just a dream. A dream that I forced upon others and they paid the price for it. I guess I wish you the best of luck when facing the grafted spider."
"Are… you just gonna stay here?" I asked.
"Only a little while longer. I'm going to join my men in death."
The misery radiating off of her was powerful. Roderika was not in a right state of mind as of now and I don't blame her. Godrick must be horrifying.
"Come with us," Melina suggested.
"Yeah, it will at least get you out of this cold, damp shack that you're staying in," I said, "I don't think your men would want you to join them. Far from it."
"But how could I? How could I rest easy knowing the eternal fate of my soldiers? After all they did for me, I repaid them like this. They're fated to be a joint, a muscle, a weapon on that repulsive spider."
"You won't rest easy," I said. Roderika looked up at me as if I had just given her a heavier burden. "And that's a good thing. It shows how much you care for your men."
I lowered myself down to her level to look her straight in the eye. "Come on, let's get out of here. We'll talk about this later when you're rested."
I offered to help her up.
She took it.
Melina and I had set up a makeshift camp during the night quite far off the main road up to Stormveil, out of sight from any soldiers of Godrick. Roderika remained crestfallen. She barely spoke to either me or Melina.
"What are we going to do?" I said to my maiden.
"We will do what we can," she said, "Godrick's evil overshadows Limgrave. A desolate abomination he is."
"But I can't face him because Margit is still in the way."
"Thou still would not be able to face him with thy skill," she said, "To continue practicing is the only way for thou to gain strength enough to fight the Grafted."
"Then let's continue." I launched my wooden sword into my hand using my feet. Melina picked up hers and we walked over to more flat ground.
"Begin when thou art ready," Melina said.
She stood astonishingly still as if she was the base of a mountain. She was shorter than me but her stature was like a tall redwood. Her right eye was akin to a golden bonfire that commanded respect and prowess. Melina never failed to impress me.
The sound of wood hitting wood rang out throughout the trees. Soon it turned into wood hitting skin. My skin to be particular.
"Remember your form," Melina commanded, "Your footwork is stiff."
I got struck. Again and again and again. I could tell bruises were going to develop on my body later.
My lame slashes were warded off by Melina's meticulous and flawless parries. She wasn't breaking a sweat.
"Um." I heard the voice and it wasn't Melina's. Much to my surprise, it was Roderika. She had finally spoken up again. "What are you doing?'
"Sorry if we disturbed thee," Melina said, "I am conditioning Nathaniel. He's barely held a sword."
"It looks like it," Roderika said. Great, now I was being insulted by two people. "Not to offend you, Nathaniel. I just want you to be ready when you face the spider."
"Thanks for your concern but there's nothing I can do but just practice," I told her, "I've been at this for days and I've been making no progress." My frustration was probably visible on my face.
"I could… uh… I could help you if you want," she said shyly, "I may not be an ideal teacher but I could try. I've helped train soldiers so I think I could be of use."
"Wow, that would be great," I said.
Melina nodded and said, "I may be versed in the blade but I am no instructor. Thank you, Roderika, for assisting Nathaniel. I think we both want him to survive his eventual confrontation with Godrick the Grafted."
"Of course," Roderika replied. Melina handed her the wooden sword. "Show me what you've learned, Nathaniel."
"You got it," I said.
Fighting Roderika was very different from dueling with Melina. I believed my maiden to be the better swordswoman but something about Roderika caught me off guard. She had confidence. It contrasted greatly with how she was acting earlier. No hesitation in her attacks against me. How did she manage this?
Her face was still sullen; I could see the sadness in her eyes. Yet, she moved without second guessing herself.
Our swords clashed for another few minutes. I had lasted longer with Roderika than I did with Melina. I felt good. I've never done this well in a sword fight. But I would come to learn that I still had a long way to go.
Roderika swatted me in the face too hard by accident.
She dropped her sword and her eyes widened in shame. "I'm so sorry!" she said, "Are you okay?!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry about me," I told her, "It seems that I'm nowhere near the same level that you are."
Melina came over to me to inspect my face. "Be careful you two," she said, "We don't need Nathaniel injured."
"I am so sorry!" Roderika cried.
"It's all right," I assured her, "It's late and I'm tired. I'm getting too ahead of myself. I won't be able to perform as well as I usually would." To be fair, even if I did fight with maximum effort, it still would be amateurish.
"I see," the blonde said.
"It's about time I get some rest," I said to Melina. She understood and disappeared into the wind. I don't think I'll ever get used to how cool that is.
I was left alone with Roderika, the disheartened warrior. Moving over closer to the campfire, I asked Roderika to sit next to me. She reluctantly came over and sat.
I could feel her sorrow, her remorse, her guilt. They were feelings that I've been well acquainted with. The way you could feel your heart beating as you wish for it to cease. The way you wish you could just do everything over again, if only you could reverse the arrow of time. But you can't and it feels like a dream that you can't. Reality is often the most terrifying out of all scenarios.
"I know you want to cry," I suddenly spoke. Roderika's eyes dilated like a sad puppy. "I know you want to cry but you also don't because I'm here."
She didn't respond.
"I'm not asking you to tell me your life story." I looked her over, trying to gauge what my next words would be. "But you can cry. I won't mind."
The truth is that I also wanted to cry. I haven't been able to because I was too busy and had too much on my mind to process. But right now, that temptation to also break down weeping was gone. I had someone in front of me who needed consolation. I couldn't care less about what I was feeling at the moment.
"I-" Roderika's voice was cut off by quivering. Her eyes watered. "How could I ever be redeemed? I led my men towards my dream but when danger came, I wasn't the one who fought. I was the one who fled while my friends hopelessly died. I abandoned them like the deserter that I am?"
She sadly reminded me of myself.
She continued, "They were my friends. They weren't mere infantry that I commanded but I knew all of their names. We went through trials with each other all for it to end here in the Lands Between."
I didn't talk. Any words that would come out of my mouth would taint the situation. I wanted to just let her talk, let her reveal the secrets of her heart not to me but to herself. Roderika desperately needed clarity. The confusion was probably killing her, making her feel worthless. We really are two peas in a pod.
"And I did nothing for them," she said, "They gave me everything. They gave me their lives most precious. Yet, I repaid them with cowardice. Now, they're legacy is being stuck to the very person who killed them."
"Then avenge them," I told her. She stared at me with disbelief and bewilderment. Perhaps that was the wrong thing to say or maybe it wasn't.
"But… how?" she asked me.
"Slay the monster that is Godrick," I told her, "Don't do it to satisfy personal vengeance, however. Do it because Godrick's evil cannot go on any longer without judgment."
"I can't," she said, "I'm too afraid."
"You're not alone in that," I said, "I am also scared to death in this world. I'm not a brave man."
"You aren't?" she asked.
"No, I'm the furthest thing from it."
"Then what hope is there for me?"
"If there's hope for me, there's hope for you."
She looked incredulous like she was not believing what she was hearing. She placed both her hands over her heart. We sat in silence after that for a while. There was nothing for us to say at that moment. Roderika doesn't need me to tell her something. She needs to make peace and also aspire to resolve the underlying problem: Godrick.
"You're right, Nathaniel. It is a disservice and a mockery to my men that I stay here trembling in fear of that horrid monster. But I don't feel any less fearful after you've said that. I'm sorry I am so pathetic."
"It's not about not being scared, I suppose. It's about doing it anyway in spite of fear."
"I'm not sure. I don't think I am ready."
"I'm not ready either, Roderika," I said, "But it's not about me. My first ever ally in this world is the one I want to fight for."
"Your maiden? Melina?"
"Yes, she is why I want to keep going."
"I can see that you care for her," Roderika said.
"She cared for me first."
Roderika's POV
The man called Nathaniel closed his eyes and dozed off right in front of me. We had finished our conversation and I could tell that he was getting drowsy. I would've felt bad if I kept him up so I urged him to fall asleep. I was left awake thinking about what he said. Could I redeem myself? Godrick, that blasted snake. Oh, how I wish I could execute him. But I knew that I wasn't powerful enough. My fear was my greatest enemy. However, Nathaniel brought a light to me, a new hope.
To the right, I saw a hazy blue light. When it dimmed down, it revealed Melina, Nathaniel's maiden. She gestured for me to stay quiet lest we wake up her Tarnished.
"Greetings," Melina whispered.
"Hi," I replied. Melina sat next to me and we both set our eyes upon Nathaniel, the mysterious Tarnished.
"You're worried for him?" Melina said. I was nervous about the fate of Nathaniel. He and Melina had found me in that pitiful cabin when I was at my lowest. I would hate it more than anything to see him fail against Godrick.
"Of course I am," I told her, "He has the face of a man but the heart of a newborn babe. I can't imagine how he will go up against the terror of this land."
"Have faith," Melina said, "Nathaniel may be unorthodox in his very essence but I can sense in him determination."
"That won't save him from Godrick. He needs skill with a blade."
"What did thou notice from thy skirmish with him?" she asked.
"I can tell how much he's trying," I said, "But he's blocked. Something is hindering him from truly taking hold of his training. It's almost like it's still not real to him."
"What dost thou mean?"
"He's still in a place between reality and illusion," I told her, "I sense that he isn't fully matured to be a warrior. Does he see grace?"
Melina nodded.
"Since he's guided by grace, he can wake from the sleep of death. He's never had to truly confront his mortality and will never need to so long as grace is with him. He doesn't worry about his life and therefore doesn't truly worry about his skill in defending himself."
"Then what shall we do?" she asked.
"Well, I see in him a loyal heart. He's someone bound to serve the needs of others not out of weakness but out of willingness and righteousness," I said, "So he will care about the lives of others."
"What evidence is there of this proposition?" Melina asked skeptically.
"Not much as I've not spent much time with him. But he certainly seems to care about you."
Melina's one eye shimmered a bit if only for a moment. A truly strong Tarnished and maiden bond they had.
"What art thou suggesting?"
I had an idea that could work. I hope my initial reading of Nathaniel was correct otherwise I might lose his and Melina's good graces.
Nathaniel's POV
I was being shaken in my sleep as I heard the distraught voice of Roderika begging me to get up. It was still so dark out.
"What? What?!" I asked as I begrudgingly forced myself up. "What is it?"
"It's Melina."
"What about her?"
"She's been taken."
At first, I didn't react because I thought I didn't hear her correctly. But it was unmistakable.
"What?!" I shouted, "But how is that possible?! Melina can go incorporeal! Why was she out at night?!"
"I don't know, Tarnished, but we have to get her back!"
"Where is she?! Who took her?!" My heart pounded not out of fear but of adrenaline and frenzied lividness.
"I couldn't see because it was so dark but she was taken by a bunch of soldiers with tunics that bore the colors green and orange." Those were the same colors as Godrick's soldiers. Those rats! They took Melina!
"Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" I shot up and threw on my chainmail over my head. It didn't matter that I didn't have a sword; I would figure out a way to fight without it. I need to find Melina first! "Where did you see her being taken away?! Wait, how did you even see it?"
"That's not important right now, Nathaniel. Follow me!"
I dashed out of camp to follow Roderika onto the main road of Stormhill. We ran further down the mountain. Up ahead, I spotted a lone soldier holding a torch to light his way.
"Careful, Nathaniel-"
I ran up to that soldier and tackled him to the ground from behind. His face scraped against the cobblestone road and he cried out a muffled scream of pain. I swiped the torch out of his hands and turned him over.
"Tarnished?!" he asked surprised.
"Did you witness the kidnapping of a maiden?!" I interrogated, "If so, tell me where!"
"And why should I say to you? Nothing but a lowly, unblessed Tarnished that doesn't deserve life."
"I may not deserve life but that won't stop me from ending yours if you don't tell me if you saw a maiden being taken."
He launched his arm up to punch my face but I swatted it away and slugged him across the face.
"I'm getting impatient," I told him.
"I am too," he said as used his two free hands to take hold of my neck and began constricting. I would come back if I died. But I realized if I died here, Melina might be long gone and I would have no information. No, I can't allow that!
I forced his hands off me and bashed him right between the eyes.
"AUG!" he yelled.
"Nathaniel!" Roderika came running up behind me. I kept my focus on the man.
"Did you or did you not see a maiden being taken?!" I shook him. Quickly, I snatched the torch on the ground and put it really close to his face, letting the embers caress his cheeks.
"Okay! Okay! I did!" he admitted, "Our Captain was leading a Tarnished-hunt and we came across a maiden. She almost seemed to surrender herself to us with how easy she was to apprehend. We were using her as bait, all right! We never intended to hurt her! The Captain has her in a cage further down Stormhill" I threw the torch away and released the man from my death grip.
"You should be thankful I'm having mercy on you," I told him, "Come on, Roderika. Let's go."
"O-oh, okay," she said.
"Oh wait, before we do that." I stole the sword from the soldier on the floor. It felt light in my hand but it would do.
Then I remembered something. Torrent. The ring was still on my finger all this time and now would be the time to utilize him.
I whistled and a mighty steed with flaring horns was summoned underneath me.
"Get on, Roderika." She heeded what I said and I helped her onto Torrent. "Torrent, Melina is in danger, ride like the wind." The eyes on Torrent squinted with resolve. "Go, Torrent!" He let out a mighty roar and sped forward.
We rode past by the shadowy mountain sides and under the glimmering stars. The dark forests would have struck fear into me but my mind was taken up with sheer focus on the task at hand.
It was a frigid night and my chainmail did little to bring warmth to my quaking bones. It was always cold. I heard the nocturnal creatures in the forest. They were like monsters in story books, the ones that you are told to avoid. Those evil monsters that lay in wait for your blood, drooling and thirsting for you to walk into their mouths to consume you. But they weren't important right now. How Melina got captured was immaterial. The fact is that she was captured! Where is that captain?!
We had gotten so far down Stormhill that I saw Stormgate. The encampment of soldiers in front of Stormgate was still fully active. Actually, it looked like there was a celebration going on. Soldiers gathered 'round one cage in the middle of the outpost. That cage held Melina.
Weirdly, she didn't look bothered. She only looked irritated and even then she must have been exercising an extreme amount of patience because her face didn't reveal anything to me.
"Thank you, Torrent. I'll get your master back," I patted him on the head and he leaned into my hand. He disappeared from under me and Roderika and I were standing just on the outskirts of the base.
"Nathaniel, you're rushing into this!" she said to me.
"Melina's in danger," I told her, "Hesitation is only going to benefit them. They won't expect my attack to be so soon."
"But you're going up against expert swordsmen!"
"I know," I said.
"You're willing to do this for your maiden?"
"If I had to, I would do it a thousand times over," I said, "Roderika, if you want, you can stay here. It might be risky if both of us go since we're both Tarnished and they're, ya know, gonna try to graft us."
I saw Roderika shudder. But I saw her face. She was less miserable it seemed. However, a new look appeared on her face. The expression I only saw once on her in combat. Boldness.
"No, I'm coming with you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. However, we only have one sword."
"We'll make do," I told her.
Roderika and I walked closer and closer to where Melina's cage was. She was sitting as if bored and when she saw us, she wasn't fazed.
There was a cluster of soldiers around it slamming on the cage and jeering at Melina to try and get her to react to something but she remained expressionless.
However, one man stood out. He towered over all the others and wore gold plating. His helmet obscured his entire head except for the narrow eye slits. If I were to guess, that would be the captain.
As I got close, I was spotted by one of the numerous soldiers that were there.
"So it seems the Tarnished finally decided to show himself," the captain said. He then saw Roderika next to me. "Two Tarnished? Well, that's the jackpot."
"Let my maiden go," I ordered.
"Oh, I will," he said, "As long as you yield and trade places with her."
Honestly, it was a tempting offer. But I knew that they wouldn't respect the deal. They would just kill Melina and Roderika anyway.
"Just to be grafted to your sick lord? Not a chance! Let her out," I repeated myself.
"Are you sure you want her? She couldn't even handle herself in a fight against us. She might not be the most useful to you."
I pointed the tip of the blade I took from the soldier at the captain. "This is the sword I took from one of your men. I'll strike you down with it if I have to. Let her go."
Roderika stood beside me with unease. She was fidgeting with her hands and her face was pale. Please stay calm, Roderika. We'll make it out of this.
"Hah! You must be a fool," he said. The captain picked up his spear that was stabbed into the ground and also his shield. He looked like a true noble knight. "I am Captain Warin. This is where you die."
Soldiers began to circle Roderika and I. Melina shot a concerned eye to Roderika who nodded at her. What did that mean?
I heard Roderika yelp in shock as she was grabbed by a soldier and held outside of the circle.
"Roderika!"
"Only one Tarnished at a time," Warin said, "I'll slaughter her as I will you."
My grip on the handle of my blade tightened as I clenched my fists harder. I've had a terrible track record of winning fights. Never won a fight in my life. When you looked at it analytically, the chances of me winning were as slim as paper.
But I couldn't fail here. Melina and Roderika are both in danger here. Although, I still don't know how Melina managed to get confined seeing that she can dematerialize.
Warin and I sized each other up. We stepped right up to each other and inspected the mannerisms unique to the other. He was much taller than I and way bulkier.
I felt no hatred, no wrath. All I had was cold, calculating focus. I couldn't afford to have anger clouding my mind. Melina and Roderika's lives were on the line.
I took the first move.
My sword thrust forward to impale him but he knocked it out of the way with his heavy shield. After my first move, I stepped back and got into a guard stance. We both waited for the other to have an opening.
He poked at me with his spear, missing each time.
I charged up my slash and let loose all my power behind a swing. My sword loudly clanged against his shield and the sound rippled through the sky.
I moved in closer but he pushed me away by slamming me in the face. Then he kicked me down onto the ground.
Cheering was heard amongst the soldiers.
No, I would not let this be like every time before!
I stood back up and tried to analyze Warin's moves. He liked to hide behind his shield a lot. Warin played defensively and took a few potshots every now and then. I wouldn't give him the chance.
I did an overhead slice and I thumped him over the head and a noisy, metallic ringing was made.
"Oh, you're going to regret that," he told me, "My body has seen more victorious battles than breaths you've taken."
"Then come and show me instead of acting like a pathetic scoundrel that people just dressed up as captain," I said coldly. If he wanted to waste my time insulting me then I would take advantage of that.
"Are you gonna let him say that, Captain?" I heard from the crowd. Soon, the audience of soldiers began chanting a tribal tune.
Warin shook his head and changed up his stance.
He charged at me, shooting his spear forward. I used my sword to redirect it and then counterattack. We were soon locked in an impasse. Neither of us were hitting each other. It was a dance of steel. Ugly clanking sounds were the new Mozart in our battle. He and I would trade blows elegantly. He would drive his spear toward me and I would dodge to the side. I would retaliate with a slash which would be blocked. Warin and I were in a perpetual state of counterattacks, dodges, and blocks.
"You really plan on being difficult?" Warin asked, "It will make it all the more sweeter once I kill you right in front of your friends here."
Parry. Parry. Parry. RIPOSTE!
I propelled my blade forward, piercing it into his stomach. It punctured the armor and came out the other side and blood spurted out of his back. Even under the helmet, I could tell he was in shock. I yanked on my sword but it seemed stuck inside his body. So I placed my foot on his chest and used my leg to push him off of it. I felt the blade slide against the hard and smooth texture that was his bones.
He dropped to his knees and clutched at the gaping slit that was opened up in his abdomen. Even the soldiers that Warin commanded were in horror.
I walked over to him and carefully positioned the tip of my blade at his helmet's left eyehole. Then I pushed.
That was it, my first victory.
But I didn't feel glad. Soldiers were still here and some of them regained their senses after their initial disbelief.
"Roderika, catch!" I flung the blade at the soldier holding her and it stabbed through his shoulder. Roderika paused a bit in incredulity but quickly gained her bearings. She tore the sword from the guy and began hacking and slashing any soldier that was in proximity to her.
Roderika and I soon began passing that one sword back and forth to each other in intervals perfectly in sync. The one with the sword would efficiently take down enemies while the other would protect the back of the person with the blade.
She passed the sword to me and I sliced a soldier's tunic and then swung up, slashing his face, killing him.
I looked around to find another opponent but there were none.
That was the last man.
It was over.
I felt my knees buckle and I fell to the ground. My lungs were burning as if I were an asthmatic. My heart was heard in my chest, beating as if like a metronome to a crazy piano piece. I was there grasping for any breath I could take.
That was so scary. I was trembling so much on the inside.
"Roderika, open the cage, please," I said through heavy gasps.
"Are you all right, Nathaniel?"
"Yes, I'm good. Just… give me a minute." She nodded and went up to the cage. Roderika somehow got the key even though I didn't see her pick it up from anywhere but whatever. It was all over now. I can rest.
I closed my eyes.
Melina's POV
Roderika came to open up the cage the soldiers put me in. I heard a thump sound and saw that it was Nathaniel's body collapsing to the ground. At first, I was worried but then I saw that he was still breathing. Roderika opened up the latch and the cage opened outward. I stepped out and we both walked over to Nathaniel.
I checked his pulse and I confirmed that he was still alive. Was he sleeping?
"I'd say that the results were much better than either of us were expecting," Roderika said. The plan that she had proposed was stupid; there were so many ways it could've gone wrong. But Nathaniel pushed through. I felt proudness store up in my heart.
"Thy plan was careless," I said.
"Then why did you agree to it?" she asked.
"Because I-"
"You had faith?"
I nodded. "Yes, I had faith in him." Roderika's plan consisted of me handing myself over to a Tarnished hunting party so they could use me as bait which would force Nathaniel to come and save me.
"But what would you have done if it had failed?" I asked.
"I knew you were powerful enough to take them all on," she said, "You are, afterall, a maiden. They were foolish to believe that they actually captured you."
"I suppose," I muttered, "I am just surprised that thy brash plan worked. Nathaniel has done well today. How did thou know that this would work?"
"I just knew that he cared more for something than his own mortality."
"And what is that?" I asked, confused.
"You don't see it?" Roderika questioned, "You saw how he was in a clash. Haphazard and all over the place. But look how he fought after he heard that his maiden had been taken." She had a small smile on her lips.
My eye widened in surprise and looked down at Nathaniel.
"You have a special Tarnished, Melina. He reminds me of one of my soldiers. Terrible in a fight for his own life but when I was in danger, his blade was the deadliest in the land."
I gently moved Nathaniel's hair out of his face.
"Thank you," I whispered. Whether that was to Roderika or Nathaniel was up for debate. Even though I was in no real danger, it was… sort of sweet to see Nathaniel fight with such vigor and concentration.
This was a right step forward in his preparation against Margit and ultimately Godrick the Grafted.
When I was in the cage, I witnessed Nathaniel show an unprecedented amount of skill and finesse. It was beautiful. Seeing him block, dodge, and weave with such precision was cathartic after many days of hard labor, practicing from the edge of dawn to the dark of night. The way he moved between Warin's attacks like flowing water was a spectacle. He had progressed far above what he was before.
I stared at Nathaniel's resting face.
He deserved a good rest.
Looking at Roderika, I said, "I thought that thou didn't want to help fight. What made thee change thy mind?"
She paused to think about the question I had asked. Then she said, "I want to make up for my wrongdoing. My men deserve at least that. Nathaniel showed me that it doesn't matter if I am scared. I just need to do it. I guess this plan wasn't only about unblocking Nathaniel but also to set me free in a way, I suppose."
"I see," I said, "I guess thy plan worked quite well."
"Much better than I was expecting. It was to anchor Nathaniel down to reality. That his fights aren't illusions. There is darkness in this world and he will take them more seriously after today. I should expect him to have a spike in his effectiveness in battle after today."
A man fighting half-heartedly in battle could be fatal. Now Nathaniel had a reason to cast aside his reluctance to tread this path.
And I am glad to have been a part of that.
