15. Ivory Forest
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The wind howled in his ears as they soared through the obscuring clouds. He was utterly terrified in the clutches of these demonic creatures, completely at their mercy. He expected to be dropped at any moment, sent plummeting into the haze below, but the winged fiends clung tight as they glided towards some unknown destination. The man wondered if they were carrying him back to their nest, perhaps to feast upon at their discretion.
As his mind raced with fearful possibilities, the clouds parted unexpectedly, and he was greeted to a magnificent sight. Below them was a vast ocean of surging waves, each foaming crest spraying hundreds of feet into the sky. In the far distance was an island surrounded by steep crags, as well as a graveyard of splintered ships, their broken masts and torn sails snapped and pierced upon the jagged rocks, serving as a warning to anyone foolish enough to try and make berth. The man was ironically relieved to have a less conventional means of travel, however grotesque the creatures may seem.
His abductors carried him over the raging sea towards the island, and once they were above dry land, promptly released him. He fell with a thud onto the frozen soil, while the fiends chattered overhead as if mocking him. Before he could even stand, they were gone, flittering away into the vibrant aurora.
Brushing off his cloak, the Lucid One surveyed his new surroundings. Before him was a barren forest of white trees, with sparse patches of grass poking through the rime. Snowflakes fell gently to the ground, and a frosty haze swirled between the ivory trunks, its wispy tentacles tickling at his face. He had little doubt that this was the isle he sought — the isle of Samaras, the Propagator.
As his gaze drifted through the endless woods, he caught sight of something strangely familiar. He started towards it in disbelief, recalling their vicious battle on the parapets of the basilica. It was the blue drake, lying dead at the cliff's edge.
Although there was no mistaking its cyclopean eye and frilled jaws, the behemoth was undergoing some bizarre transformation. An enormous alabaster tree had sprung up around the ballista bolts lodged in its wing, surrounded by smaller saplings. Their roots had overtaken the great beast, casting a sinewy net across its corpse, and some of them seemed to be sprouting from its very scales. There were even branches creeping between its rows of fangs.
As he examined the strange phenomenon, the Lucid One realized that the trees were feeding off the dragon's silver blood, which pooled about its body and gaping maw. It appeared to be a prolonged, natural process, and he suddenly found himself wondering just how much time had passed since he awoke. It seemed only recently that he had been lost and frightened in those labyrinthine halls of the sleeping dead, but judging by this growth, it had been much, much longer than he could have imagined.
Pushing aside the disconcerting notion, he turned from the fallen drake and headed off into the woods, keeping a sharp eye out for whatever awaited him in the mist.
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At first, he thought his ears were playing tricks on him. He paused and listened as a melodious song floated on the wind, trying to discern where it was coming from. He followed the dulcet voice until he was sure it was real, and soon, he found himself at a clear, still pond surrounded by blossoming blue flowers.
A woman knelt beside the water's bank. It was she who hummed the haunting tune, eyes closed as if in prayer. She was stunningly beautiful, with porcelain skin and short chestnut hair, wreathed in the same pale-blue flowers that grew along the shore. Her simple cloth gown seemed like clerical attire, and a long wool cloak draped around her shoulders.
Absorbed in her song, he took another step, and a snapping twig drew her attention. The melody faded as she turned, calmly surveying the man with verdant green eyes. "Oh, hello there," she greeted him. "Are you lost? Please, rest your feet if you'd like. It's no bother to me, really."
Surprised by her geniality, he obliged and sat beside the woman. She smiled softly as she looked back to the pond. "I often find myself coming here to clear my head. It's remarkable, wouldn't you agree? One of the last places left untainted by that dreadful poison."
He concurred; this was perhaps the most peaceful land he had beheld since his awakening. The placid waters and light snowfall seemed otherworldly in their serenity. Not a single breath of wind was present to interrupt the tranquil scene. Everything from the turquoise petals of the flowers to the crystal surface of the pond remained as still as a painting.
The woman cast a curious glance his way. "You don't speak much, do you? It's quite alright. I can already guess what brought you here, anyways. You've come to visit our Divine Mother, haven't you?" She chuckled at his look of astonishment. "You wouldn't be the first, and you shan't be the last. Men from all over have tried to reach this isle, seeking her blessing. Only a few have actually found it. You are one of the fortunate ones, make no mistake.
"I can help you gain an audience with her. I am Sister Celia, a servant of the Divine Mother. It is my duty to welcome newcomers to her lands, and guide them into her loving embrace. In order to be admitted to her congregation, you must make an offering to the leader of our covenant, Saint Davni. Take this, it will aid you on your journey."
She produced a crimson crystal from her gown and handed it to him. It was almost identical to the one Morrow had given him, save for its darker hue. "Use that shard to seek an offering. You will know what to do when the time comes. It won't be easy, but I have faith in you, traveler."
He tucked the crystal away in his robes, then stood and bowed to the helpful maiden. As much as he wanted to stay in this wondrous moment, he had his mission to fulfill. Sister Celia smiled again in understanding. "Before you leave," she continued, "I would suggest taking some of these flowers with you. They will help stave off the cold that permeates this land. Blessings upon your journey, traveler. Stay safe."
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With his pockets full of blue petals, he trekked on through the woods. Not another living soul was in sight, though the chilling mist did hinder his vision. The Lucid One wandered aimlessly, wishing that the Sister had given him some direction, and thought about turning back. However, he no longer recalled which way he came from, so he pressed onward blindly.
The pale trees had begun to take hideous forms. Their trunks were twisted and bent, with gnarled branches reaching for the dark sky as if begging forgiveness. Vines tumbled from their tops like tangled hair, and some had flowers poking through the stringy mess. The man stared at one as he passed, catching sight of a knotted hollow buried beneath the swaying tendrils.
He froze in his tracks as he remembered there was no wind, yet tree was moving.
Before he could act, the branches swiped down, catching him in their clutches. He struggled frantically as he was scooped off his feet and lifted to the tree's concave face, which echoed with a mournful cry. Suddenly, it spewed a frigid fog over him, numbing him to the bone.
The Lucid One stopped writhing as his blood turned to ice. All he could do was clench his eyes shut before they were blinded by cold. The frosty cloud washed over him, collecting on his exposed skin, then he was abruptly dropped to the ground. His eyelids snapped open again, and he desperately willed his body to move. He reached out a trembling hand as the tree-creature wailed, dragging himself inch by inch. Branches scraped against his boots, trying to pull him back, but he kicked himself free and continued to worm through the dirt.
A second tree moaned as another wave of frost billowed over him. He could no longer feel his arms and legs, stricken with frostbite, and curled into a pathetic ball. He tried to retrieve the blue blossoms from his pockets, though his fingers would not respond. All he could manage was to spill them across the ground, but it was enough. The man rolled face-first in the frozen soil and chewed the flowers eagerly.
As their nectar dripped down his throat, he felt his body slowly equalizing its temperature. The blood was pumping again, giving him enough sensation to crawl on all fours. He scampered away from the weeping birches until he reached a short stone wall, and pressed his back to the crumbling ruin. He quickly drank from his Estus, grateful for its warming vigor.
"Halt, trespasser!"
He nearly dropped his flask at the snarling voice. He looked up and was terrified to find a giant feline glaring down at him. It sat nestled in the wall's window, lips curled back to bare rows of razor-sharp fangs. It was covered in silver-gray fur, and its hairless tail flicked beside it, oddly scaled and serpentine. Two gleaming yellow eyes appraised him hungrily as if he were a meal.
"Do not move, human, or I will rend the flesh from your bones," she warned, stretching her long claws to bolster the threat. "These woods are my domain. You have no business being here. You would do well to leave at once, if you know what's good for you."
The Lucid One knew he should take the offer, but was quite reluctant to turn his back on the great predator. He stepped away slowly, keeping one hand on the hilt of his golden sword.
The cat's eyes fell upon the matching weapons, and her sneer softened into disbelief. "Wait. Are those... Lycian's own blades? How did you come to acquire those, human?"
He was not sure how to answer, so he stood his ground silently. The feline continued to study him, though it no longer appeared ready to pounce. The man noticed that besides its fur, there were tufts of white feathers bunched around its shoulder blades. "You... you defeated him, did you not?" she continued. "You faced the Cardinals and lived to tell of it?" At this, he nodded stiffly, and to his surprise the cat chuckled.
"Yes, I see now. You've got some backbone to you, human! You are a strange one indeed, but nevertheless brave. Tell me, what brings you to this land? Don't tell me you're following those fools into the arms of the Propagator."
He nodded again, and this time, the cat's chuckle was full of ridicule. "You'll find naught but death if you go to her. Her kindred will take what they need of you and discard the rest, mark mine words. 'Tis a fool's errand to seek her out." Her whiskered lips curled into a wicked grin. "But I have a better offer for you. Join me, Eveline the Direcat, and my coven of hunters. We protect these lands from those who would defile its beauty, and send them back to their maker. You'd be free to do as you please, but when I summon you, you must answer my call and fight. What say you, human? Will you join us? I believe we would suit you well."
She held out a small ring hanging from one of her claws, with a black pearl set in its flowery emblem. The man glanced at the offering, then waved a hand in silent decline. The feline's grin faded, and she visibly bristled in outrage.
"You fool!" she spat in contempt. "You will fight either way, only now without my protection. Begone from my sight, and may the forest take your soul."
With that, the direcat abruptly vanished into thin air, leaving him wondering if he had chosen wrong. Regardless, there was no turning back. He ventured on into the ivory woods, eyeing every tree reproachfully.
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A decimated company of golden knights lay before him, though their lustrous armor had long since lost their sheen. They became more numerous the further he traveled, which the Lucid One hoped was a sign that he was heading in the right direction. Most of the empty suits had saplings sprouting from their ice-caked shells, while others were partly buried in the ground, frozen hands outstretched in a futile attempt to escape their fate. Dozens of saltire-tipped staves stuck in the dirt and trees, practically becoming one with the forest.
Ahead of him was another pond, its waters darkened by what could only be poison, with headless knights and dead Inquisitors littering its banks. At the center was one of the petrified creatures, its stone tentacles wrapped around the staves and spears thrusting from the mire. Something else glistened from its limbs, and the Lucid One squinted to find a small silver bell hanging low. He could not believe his luck. He desperately needed a chime after his previous one had been destroyed, and here was one just ripe for the taking.
As he stepped over the scattered corpses, something moved amongst the trees. The Lucid One quickly ducked behind one of the fallen soldiers as dark shapes appeared from the mist. They were undoubtedly phantoms, but unlike any he had seen before, each a deep shade of blue with black smoke rising from their shadowy forms. It was not the cerulean color of the Sentinels, nor the bloody crimson of an adversary. These were something else entirely.
As he watched the murky spirits prowling through the woods, he suddenly realized what they were, and an unnerving dread crept over him.
He was being hunted.
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Appendix
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Cat Covenant Ring — A ring gifted to those who enter into a covenant with Eveline the Direcat. Answer her summons to defend the Ivory Forest. There are some who worship the Direcat as a goddess, but even she scoffs at such a vain title.
Cold Blossom — A rare flower used to counteract frostbite. This plant can only be found near bodies of chilled water, but grows abundant in the Ivory Forest. Despite their value, few dare to brave these haunted woods.
Frost Cloud — A sorcery of the Nephel. Creates a chilling mist that causes frostbite. Though the armies of Heliphon soundly defeated the Nephel, they were ultimately driven back by the merciless cold.
Red Soapstone Shard — A relic of ancient times. When broken, it curses its holder with bloodlust. These shards closely resemble the red eye orbs of myth, and are said to be tainted by the essence of sin, which resides in the heart of every mortal.