8. Bellkeepers

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The belfry soared majestically into the drifting clouds. At its base, a pair of archers floated beside the entrance, with a heavy gate denying passage. There was no avoiding them. The Lucid One hesitantly thumbed the silver ring below his cane's quartz pommel. He had been successful so far, but mainly due to luck, and that was sure to run out. He had to have faith in his mission, and in Nos. That was the only way to defeat these derelict angels.

The notion still weighed heavily on his conscience. He had no idea why he was battling the divine constructs, but it was not his place to question. Something was terribly wrong, and his quest would surely set things right. The ring clicked into place, and he charged.

As he neared, the archers raised their bows in unison, firing twin volleys of silver nettles. He dove low between them, then immediately backpedaled as their weapons swung like clubs. He refrained from counterattacking, hoping to draw the angels away from the walls, where they would be vulnerable.

Sure enough, they floated forward, raising their bows to stake him with the pointed ends, but they struck only stone. Their strength was formidable, but the man was quicker. He tumbled past, staff separating mid-roll, and lashed the angels twice across their backsides. Feathers fluttered as they cried out, then swung again in a wide arc. He was already dodging, moving far right to place one archer between the other.

His staff snapped together. With one hand on the pommel, the Lucid One jammed its tip into the base of the angel's wing, eliciting a horrendous shriek from the creature. His cane sunk into its joint, but its partner was already upon him. He placed a foot on the gilded armor to pull himself free, and fell back as the bow whistled overhead. He rose to his feet, whipping the archer's conical helmet. The attacks barely fazed it. With a powerful flap it rushed forward, bow extended, and toppled the man to the ground.

He quickly recovered as it flew overhead. As he struck the wings repeatedly, the angel cried out and spun towards him. The cane locked together, then separated in a straight thrust. It caught the angel below the breastplate, enough to finally stagger it. As it drifted to the ground, his cane solidified and stabbed upward beneath its helm.

There was a rush of golden smoke as its inner glow extinguished, and the armor fell to pieces around him. He had no time to celebrate, for a sharp note signaled the other's bow. Without looking, he threw himself aside, and arrows scattered past. Before he could stand, the bow sang again, and he rolled alongside the wall. The silver needles shot through the stone without resistance. He charged the lone angel, denying it the advantage of ranged combat. With the cane barred before him, the bow swung, and their weapons collided.

The force of the blow nearly sent him sprawling. His arms flung wide as his guard was broken, and he stumbled to stay upright. A flash of metal made him drop to the ground, barely avoiding the next strike, then his cane whipped upward into the construct's chin, causing its helmet to snap back. A second lash caught its arm, delaying its next attack long enough for him to dive under it. He came up behind and stabbed deep into its wing.

The angel wailed as the man forced it down, face-first against the stone. He pushed with all his might and felt the staff go straight through, until it jarred against the inside of its breastplate. The archer raised a gauntlet as its light faded, then the arm collapsed and broke apart.

With a firm tug, the Lucid One retrieved his cane, then surveyed the vacant shells. He was amazed he had won with only some bruised ribs, hardly worth the blessed draughts he carried. He had one swig of each flask remaining, and did not want to squander them.

Instead, he moved to the lever tucked beside the gateway and activated it. The dark-iron portcullis shuddered as it rose, as if it had stood unused for ages. Just inside its archway was a spiral staircase, and with a steadying breath, the man started his ascent.

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When he reached the top of the tower, he gaped in awe at the enormous ebony bell hanging from the rafters. The polished marble floor reflected its magnificence, as well as the angelic statues that rested against each of the four pillars. Their carved bodies were overtly muscular, detailed right down to their bulging veins, but their faces were oddly infantile in contrast, with rounded cheeks and short curly hair. Countless fractures marred their smooth surface. Each statue held a spherical mallet before them, their silver-and-gold heads larger than the man's own skull.

His attention, however, was drawn entirely to the bell above. Its obsidian surface featured an ornate embossing of a hooded angel, her face veiled, with six moulting wings and four arms spread wide. The upper pair pinched chains connected to curved platters, like a scale, while her lower left cradled a thick tome. In her lower right hand, she gripped a wavy kris dagger with a curved hilt.

When he finally tore his eyes from the ominous figure, he noticed a plaque at his feet, engraved with a glowing epitaph. It read—

The Bell of Dusk

Commissioned by Saint Richter, Cardinal of the South

In honour of our Fair Lady, Ebraxes

At once, he understood. This was a depiction of the Cessator, the angelic Watcher of True Death, judge of sinner and savior alike. He suddenly felt insignificant in her holy presence, even if it was only a carving.

Just then, a bell rang clear in the distance. Far away, in the opposite tower, a golden bell glistened as it rocked to and fro in the rays of light. Morrow had reached his goal. The Lucid One hurriedly searched for a means of ringing his in reply, then spotted the familiar lever against a pillar.

As soon as his hands touched the device, the ringing stopped. Fear and concern flooded his mind as he peered at the silent belltower, wondering what had halted it. He had no time to question, and pulled the switch. Chains creaked, the rafters moaned, and the ebony bell swung with a resounding toll.

He kept his ears honed for the other's response, but none came. He began to fear the worst when a sudden crack snapped his attention. He turned as one of the statues lurched to life. The web of fractures that lined its muscular body shimmered with azure light, and its eyes shone white. The cracks running down its cheeks sparkled blue as well, as if it were crying. The statue stepped unsteadily from its dais, then hefted its enormous mallet in both fists.

Its faintly carved smile fell upon the man, and he shrank insignificantly under the shadow of its stone wings. Then, without warning, it charged.

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The golden club obliterated the marble tiles as he leapt aside. The statue was slow and lethargic, but the weight of its weapon alone could crush him. As the infantile face creaked in his direction, he scrambled to his feet, trying to shake off the fear. He had beaten angels before, rose above overwhelming odds. The man tried to garner his confidence, but the statue's genial expression sent a chill through his soul.

The bellkeeper charged again, each footfall cracking the floor beneath its bulk. It swung wide, forcing him to dive, and the cane whipped uselessly against its rocky skin. The mallet fell like a boulder, almost pinning his cloak as he rolled away, and again the whip lashed out to little effect. His silver staff could barely scrape its fractured form, drawing little more than flakes of stone. As the statue lumbered towards him, he tried casting his magic arrow; as expected, it broke harmlessly over its broad chest.

Before the golem could reach him, there was a crack from behind. The man tumbled reflexively as another mallet crashed down. He stared in disbelief as a second statue joined the fray. Both constructs ran awkwardly at the trespasser, so he dove beneath the ebony bell, placing its mass between him and his pursuers.

The angels were slow to react. They swung with abandon into the bell, which echoed against their blows. The statues seemed to reel in pain from the sound, while the cracks in their skin spread further. Instantly, a plan formed in the Lucid One's head. While the bellkeepers were distracted, he rushed to the lever again.

Then, his heart stopped. That impenetrable mist had returned, coating the mechanism and rendering it useless. A glance revealed that it also covered the stairwell, blocking any chance of escape. His hopes evaporated as the angels recovered, charging with twin hammers raised high.

He dodged the first strike, but the second crashed onto his leg, shattering the shinbone. Pain seared through his limb as he dragged himself away, but the keepers showed no mercy. Their weapons fell again, and he rolled on his side below the safety of the bell. A mallet collided as he was still underneath, and the reverberation split his skull. Again, the statues paused in agony, their skin cracking even more.

When his ears stopped ringing, the Lucid One suddenly noticed something tickling through his robes. He thought it was his imagination, but with the angels distracted, he risked retrieving the mystery item.

In his palm was the white soapstone shard. It was quivering.

Morrow's advice sprang to mind, and he knew what he must do. He hurled the crystal to the floor, shattering it to pieces and releasing a fine mist. Divine runes alighted the marble tiles where it fell. As the bellkeepers regained their focus, a figure emerged from the haze.

He was shocked to see the pale phantom of Lady Serise standing over him, with her unmistakeable steepled hat and split-tailed coat. She turned briefly, giving him a sight nod, then slid her black-bladed greatsword from its sheath. With spiked shield raised, she charged bravely to meet the angels.

Serise slid to her knees beneath the first swing, dealing a glancing blow against the bellkeeper's thigh. As the construct turned, she thrust at its side, wedging the sword-tip deep into its cracked skin. The statue stumbled as the other rushed forward, its mallet colliding with her shield.

A revelation struck the Lucid One, and he cursed himself for not realizing it sooner. Slashing was useless, but piercing attacks were apparently effective. He hastily removed the sapphire flask to drink the last of the blessed water, and his shin snapped painfully back into place. Soon, that pain was gone as well, and he stood refreshed to rejoin the battle.

Both bellkeepers were focused on the knightess, allowing him to get close. With both hands, he jabbed his cane into a statue's thigh, and it stumbled forward with a groan. Serise ducked beneath the other's mallet, then stabbed her blade into the opposite side of the leg. There was a splitting crack as the limb crumbled to pieces, and the bellkeeper toppled to the floor, unable to stand.

Another blow knocked Serise's shield aside, and she barely avoided the following strike. The Lucid One was about to aid her when a rumble caused him to dodge instinctively. A mallet crashed through the floor as a third statue shambled from its platform.

Keeping his distance, the man deftly sidestepped the falling hammer and jabbed with his cane. A stone wing swept in to deflect the blow, then it flung wide, knocking him clear off his feet. His fingernails scraped marble as he nearly slid off the tower, and halted with his upper torso hanging in mid-air.

He clambered to his feet in time to see the fourth and final statue glow a sparkling blue. They were now outnumbered two-to-one. Serise noticed this as well, and backed away as two keepers rushed her. Both mallets came crashing down, but she dove between them, coming to her feet before the crippled statue. It raised its hammer in one hand, and Serise's shield shot up instantly.

The mallet had no time to connect. One of the shield's spikes launched forward, embedding in the angel's face and marring its gentle smile. The bellkeeper dropped its arm in surprise, leaving it wide open. Thinking fast, the Lucid One rolled beneath a swinging hammer as his staff separated, and he lashed at the barbed bolt, knocking it free. It shattered the stone visage, exposing a glowing mass of blue crystals that pulsated with divine energy.

Before he could act, a pair of keepers charged in. The man was forced back, rolling beneath the bell, and the golden spheres knelled against its ebony surface. The three statues wavered, disoriented, and Serise took advantage of the opening.

As the fallen statue swung blindly, the black greatsword ran through its neck. A rush of cerulean mist burst from its head as it bellowed deep. Strangely, the sound was doubled by a high-pitched whine, like a child crying for its mother. At once, the shimmering cracks went dark, and the stone keeper collapsed into rubble.

The others recovered quickly. They released a simultaneous warcry, enraged by their fallen comrade, then charged with renewed vigor. Vapor steamed from their fractured skin as they swung wildly, forcing the mortals back, giving them no time to retaliate. One of the mallets crashed into a pillar and nearly collapsed the column. The entire belfry shivered with the animosity of their attacks.

The Lucid One had two statues chasing after him. He thrust his staff as it snapped apart, catching a bellkeeper in the chest. The brute continued its stampede and nearly trampled the man, who tumbled away as the other's mallet swung just above his hair. He tried to stab with his cane, but the wing shielded the statue once again. He leapt back as its stone feathers whisked past his face. The golden maul followed shortly, mere inches from knocking his head clean off.

Serise was faring better than he, and focused on downing her single target. She danced around the behemoth, keeping to its sides, thrusting only when the opportunity presented itself. As its stony skin chiseled apart, she noticed the Lucid One overwhelmed by the twin statues. Without hesitating, she tumbled towards him in time to block a deadly blow.

Before he knew what was happening, Serise tossed her shield at him. He barely caught the spiked frame, then secured it to his left arm. As he hoisted the heavy steel ward, Serise produced a folded parchment and slid it along her sword in one deft motion. With a roar, flames leapt from its blackened blade, and the pair resumed their battle.

The knightess avoided another swing, coming up behind the construct. She took her fiery greatsword in both hands and lunged into the statue's backside, dropping it to its knees. At the same time, the Lucid One jabbed the cane into its throat, while Serise spun her weapon upside-down and slammed it between the angel's wings. It gave a pained groan, echoed by a shrill whimper, as smoke billowed from the gaping wounds.

The other bellkeepers leapt to defend their kin. Stone wings lifted them high, then the golden mallets crashed down like twin meteors, sending slabs of marble through the air. The man tumbled back, coming to his knees as he fired a barbed bolt. It lanced a statue through the eye, but it seemed not to notice. Serise continued to assault the wounded angel, and with a mighty swing, took its battered head clean off. Still the construct continued its onslaught, sweeping its hammer wide and catching the knightess with the lengthy handle. The blow sent her reeling against a pillar, where she slumped to the floor.

Without thinking, the Lucid One leapt onto the angel's back in a frenzy. He lodged the shield between its wings for support as he drove his staff into its exposed neck. He stabbed over and over, feeling the crystals breaking with each strike. Finally, a fountain of mist erupted from its body, and the statue toppled to its knees.

As the others closed on the knightess, she struggled to retrieve something from her pouches. Producing a fistful of green grass, she hastily stuffed it into her mouth, and was suddenly on her feet before the heavy mallets could find her. With one hand against her ribs, she thrust upward into an unprotected armpit, and heard a resounding crack. The angel's limb separated at the shoulder, nearly dragging its weapon down with it.

The Lucid One rolled off the statue's back, then fired a final bolt into the broken neck. The projectile disappeared into its body and burst out its spine, releasing a fatal jet of vapor. A pained wail echoed as the great golem fell apart, defeated.

Serise rushed to his side and retrieved her shield. Together, they stood against the last two bellkeepers. Instead of attacking, though, the enemy did something bizarre. The lumbering angels straightened, unusually reserved, weapons poised before them. Then, they promptly smashed the golden hammers into their own faces and demolished them.

The mortals stared in alarm at the cavernous skulls glistening with crystal. A piercing pitch filled the air, and they both leapt aside as twin rays of light exploded from the shattered stone heads. The searing beams raced across the tiles, causing crystals to erupt from where they struck.

As Serise reloaded her shield, the Lucid One tried to distract the enemies. He ran forward as the lasers shot again, and leapt over them as they crossed paths. However, the spiking shards hit him from behind, slicing through his back and numbing his nerves. He remained on his knees as his blood went cold.

The knightess charged now, bringing her greatsword down on the one-armed angel, but the flaming blade rebounded off its stone flesh. She fell back as the hammer flailed at her, then the other fired a single beam. She had no time to avoid it, and the laser collided with her shield, knocking her flat on her back. Then, the crystals burst beneath her, impaling the woman.

While the angels were distracted, the Lucid One drew the last of his Estus with a shaking hand. He struggled to raise it to his lips, then felt the invigorating warmth flare through his veins. The numbness vanished, and he leapt into action. The statues were approaching the fallen knightess when his staff dug into one of their kneecaps with a snap. A stone wing whipped around and sent him sprawling, but he was back on his feet in an instant, the pain only fueling his rage.

The air began to hum, and he dove to the side as the pair of lasers raced by. His cane separated straight into a statue's broken head, stunning it briefly. Suddenly, the blackened greatsword burst through the back of its skull, and a hiss of vapors escaped its wound. Serise was still in the fight, unheeding her grievous injuries.

The golden mallet arced around in response, but she ducked beneath its mass. Leaping away, she fired once, twice, three times into its concave face, and the head exploded in a shower of stone. The second statue began to radiate white light as a shrieking note split the air.

Before it could unleash its attack, the Lucid One did something desperate. He hoisted one of the fallen mallets overhead, and though he did not possess the strength to wield it, he had just enough to send it crashing into the ebony bell. The deep intonation interrupted the angel's spell, and Serise charged the headless construct. She sliced at its injured kneecap, severing the leg, and the statue pitched forward. With a mighty thrust, she plunged her blade into its neck, right down to the hilt.

The angel crumbled, leaving only its one-armed companion standing. As it was still recovering from the bell's resonance, the mortals pressed their assault. They circled the ungainly giant, sword and staff striking from either side, while it swung its mace blindly with one hand, never connecting with the nimble warriors. Serise impaled its shoulder from behind, cleaving off the other arm, and the Lucid One drove his staff through its midsection.

With a great heave of its wings, the statue soared high. The duo dove aside as its feet slammed to the floor, causing the entire tower to quake. It charged the man headfirst, but he managed to extend his cane into its skull before tumbling aside. Serise tossed her shield onto her back, then gripped her sword in both hands. She threw all her weight at the angel's stunted shoulder and stabbed deep into its chest cavity. At the same time, the Lucid One struck from the other side, leaning into his staff until he heard crystal crack.

Bright blue steam billowed from the statue's fractured skin, and with a mewling cry, it perished into ruin.

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The Lucid One nearly collapsed from exhaustion, and hunched over his cane to keep upright. Despite the pain that wracked his body, he managed to give his ally a faint smile and nod, grateful for her assistance. Lady Serise placed a hand over her heart, replying with an elegant half-bow, half-curtsy, then gradually faded into thin air. The man blinked in surprise, having forgotten she was merely a phantom, and wondered where the real Serise could be. He prayed for her safety, though it was apparent she could fend for herself.

Once his heart stopped pounding, he returned to the lever, now freed from the binding fog, and the ebony bell tolled loudly once more. The man gazed to its twin tower in the distance, ears straining for any hint of a response.

Suddenly, the golden bell pealed crisply through the air, and the Lucid One wanted to shout in joy. Morrow had succeeded. They had both succeeded.

The ringing bells were promptly answered by a deafening crash. The glaciers that surrounded the inner walls were crumbling. Hailstones the size of boulders avalanched into the canals below, and gradually, the ornate golden doors were exposed. The entrance to the Basilica was laid bare.

His celebration was cut short as another noise reached him. It was an unsettling sound, a keening wail that slowly rose above the clanging bells. The man peered across the great wall, trying to spot the source of the awful cacophony.

When he finally saw it, an involuntary shiver ran through his spine. All along the ramparts, the corpses atop the wheels were crying out in chorus.

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Appendix

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Angel's Breath — A divine sorcery of the angels. Fires a focused beam of crystallized souls. The breath of angels is said to be the very essence of life, yet proves incomprehensible to mortal minds.

Bellkeeper's Mallet — A ceremonial mace forged of silver and gold, wielded by the Bellkeepers of the Basilica. The twin bells of Dusk and Dawn were gifted to the Four Cardinals in recognition of their divinity. For this reason, only the purest of souls were anointed to watch over them.

Blackiron Greatsword — An heirloom inherited by Lady Serise, knight of Carthania. Its iron blade has been blackened by the consistent use of charcoal resin. The mercenaries of Carthania were infamous for their fighting spirit, yet they were powerless against the floods.

Charcoal Resin — A parchment of charcoal resin that applies fire to a weapon. The use of flame was forbidden to mortals by Nos Himself, and brandishing this resin is considered an affront.

Crossbow Shield— A unique shield invented by the blacksmiths of Carthania. It is loaded with barbed spikes, which can be shot like crossbow bolts. Carthania was once an advanced society, but they are remembered only as warmongering savages.

Green Blossom — A flower commonly used to cure fatigue and hasten recovery. Despite its bitter taste, this plant gained infamy among warriors for its revitalizing attributes, and was harvested to near extinction. Fresh morsels are now considered a commodity.