Part 1, Chapter 3/5: Sunlight Covenant
"I would hate to see you go Hollow." – Casivir, Chosen Undead
...in which the Chosen Undead begins to have doubts about 'his fate.'
Casivir fell down to the stone staircase at the end of a hall, breath heaving, head tilted back to regain it. His greatsword stained with both old and fresh blood lay draped across his lap. He knew he needed it cleaned or its sufficiency would waver.
An immense relief had entered his bloodstream when a knight of Gwyn and the executioner had fallen before his feet. Smough and Ornstein. He had to keep an eye on them both at all times not to be caught off-guard, but he had allowed his protective instinct for Solaire get the best of him, even if Solaire himself in his phantom form couldn't perish.
It made him look like a fool when Smough nearly used him as a golf ball while Solaire kept Ornstein occupied.
Tilting his head back down, he took note of how Solaire's eyes almost looked sorrowful, as he gazed ahead above Casivir's shoulder. Upon the statues behind him. Casivir didn't need to turn to register the stonework ornaments of Gwyn, his daughter Gwynevere and an empty pedestal, possibly belonging to the firstborn son of Gwyn's who was stripped of his status.
"What troubles you, my friend?"
Solaire chuckled lightly. "You have a good eye. This conversation will have to wait, however; I'm afraid I am already making my way back to the Undead Parish... but I wish to ask something of you," he replied, a hint of smile crinkling his eyes as he faced him. "If you desire it, come find me by the Sunlight Altar past the Hellkite Dragon... and I hope our worlds will remain in contact."
"Then our hopes are aligned. Stay safe until then, Solaire. As always."
In a foggy haze, his phantom returned to his own world with a bow of his head.
Casivir sighed and closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of rest.
His current mission was far from finished. It had come to his attention that there was more to it than ringing both bells –- whereas Oscar rang the second one - when he spoke to the serpent Frampt. Much to his chagrin, his purpose was to succeed Lord Gwyn and put an end to the curse that had plagued the land for centuries if not more, a purpose that he found difficult to digest.
He was merely a man. Gwyn was a Lord. How could he possibly take his place?
Not only that, but this was Oscar's mission.
Not his.
Frampt had sent him to Anor Londo to retrieve something aptly named the Lordvessel, although he spoke nothing more of it, Casivir's further questions ignored when he attempted to obtain a clearer message.
He could do nothing but move forward.
Casivir pushed his body up from the broken floor that had been a victim of Smough's relentless hammer.
Meeting Gwynevere herself was unexpected, laying in her chambers, him kneeling before her as she bestowed him the Lordvessel. It made him none the wiser. The curious artifact was another mystery he felt rude to ask what purpose it had. Neither did he want to upset a princess.
He wished to speak with Oscar. Perhaps he had an answer. Frampt was also an option, but trusting a serpent didn't lay well with him, and so he was cautious and took whatever he said with a grain of salt. Not only that, but a feeling of unease had gnawed upon his flesh as he stepped into the princess' chamber itself. Something felt off. Wrong.
It was as if Gwynevere was never truly there.
Where the Crestfallen Warrior once sat, Casivir had taken up residence, his White Soapstone clutched between his thumb and index finger. Thoughts passing through his head were like faceless shadows. He gazed into the empty air as he twined the chain around the digits of his hand.
"Mmm... hmm... Oh-o! Why such a grim face, young lad?" came a familiar but jolly voice, capturing his attention.
He was startled from his deep thoughts. "Forgive me, Siegmeyer. I do not mean to bring unease or concern. There is too much darkness in this land and I refuse to add to it."
"Ah, I see. By all means, indulge me. Do not keep me in the dark!" he said, a laugh following his pun.
His daughter Sieglinde must've fallen tired of his jests.
"That was not my intention, my friend," Casivir replied, the brief smile having grazed his features turning somber. "There used to be more men and women here at Firelink; a priestess named Rhea traveled to the Catacombs with her three escorts –- Petrus, Nico and Vince - seeking the Rite of Kindling. There was a vile man here as well, Lautrec, who murdered the firekeeper. Laurentius of the Great Swamp got ahead of himself in order to ascend his pyromancy and the Crestfallen Warrior changed location. Both lost their way, turned Hollow, and I was forced to end their suffering."
Casivir straightened his back. "This shrine is becoming more and more desolate. I find myself pondering on whom is next."
"Oh! Well, I see. Oh, my... a grim thought indeed! Well, I would not trouble myself with such matters. It certainly is an unfortunate turn of events, but we cannot lose hope because of it!"
"No worries. I've no wish to turn Hollow. I appreciate the concern nonetheless."
"I am simply returning a favor. You did much for me up above. I am grateful," Siegmeyer said, his thick brows furrowing behind his bloated helmet. "You know, I was thinking... The gates at the old fortress... Was that your doing?"
The smile returned to Casivir's lips. "It was, indeed."
"Yes! I knew it! It seemed like an unlikely coincidence," he pondered, appearing lost in thought before he snapped back. "Well, am I fortunate! This knight of Catarina thanks you sincerely."
Siegmeyer shoved something into his hands. "Please take this, as a token of my gratitude."
"A miracle?" he asked, eyes wide.
"Oh, do not fret! It is easy to cast if your faith is decent! Even a fool could figure it out! Now... I'll be heading down below shortly. There's nothing worthwhile up above. Adventuring is my life; I'm prepared for the worst."
Casivir bowed his head. "Well, then. I wish you luck, Siegmeyer. Safe travels," he said, but a thought occurred to him. "Before you go... I opened a shortcut to Quelaag. I am confident you would've succeeded without hassle if you chose the long way, but I would not forgive myself if it was left unsaid... not after what happened to Laurentius. The place reeks of death. Three infected barbarians will block your path before you reach the ladder reaching down to the swamps. I would suggest poison resist."
"Ah-aha! Solid advice, my friend. I shall keep an eye open. You have my thanks!" he replied, laughing as he went to restock some moss.
Smiling after him, Casivir shook his head.
Siegmeyer was one of a kind.
"You are quite the selfless man, are you not?"
He turned to see a familiar face. "Oscar? I am glad to see you well."
"Sage Frampt has spoken to me of you. I am told you ran the Bells of Awakening and received the word of Frampt. That is a wonderful thing. We are all counting on you."
Oscar's shoulders sagged, words muttered to no one in particular. "I only wish that I had such a purpose."
At the admission, Casivir's face fell.
"I would never have made it this far on my own. You have a purpose. If not for you... I would never have made it out of the Undead Asylum."
As if realizing his changed composure, Oscar coughed as if to cover over it, immediately straightening his back once more.
"Yes... yes, of course. Forgive me. I did not mean to... forgive me."
"Oscar -"
He cleared his throat. "I am preparing to leave. I cannot just stay here. I must find my own purpose," he replied, the agitation present in his usually soft voice. "I hope that we meet again somewhere. One day."
Casivir offered his aid, but Oscar refused with what appeared to be a strained smile.
He knew they were slowly drifting apart.
"Oh, hello there. I'm glad to see you alive. Well, you have been busy! Allowing yourself to be summoned to help other Undead in their mission? A noble act, if I may say!"
When Solaire received no response, a pure sense of alarm draped his features. "Oh, no, dear me. Did I say something improper -?" he added, although a light went up for him. "Oh! Ah –aha, of course! Well, this is mildly uncomfortable. I realize now this is the first time you have seen my face. Amateurish on my part. Did I scare you?"
"No, certainly not. I just never imagined... My reaction was uncouth. Forgive me," Casivir said.
Solaire's golden hair was pulled back into a plain black band, a light five o'clock shadow covering his jaw, a prominent nose and thin lips fallen somewhat open in a smile as he looked at him with the same piercing blue eyes. If he were to guess, Solaire would only be a few years younger, looking aside from the tired, dark circles barely beginning to form underneath his eyes.
He was beautiful.
"Well, that certainly puts a dampener on my confidence. Why, I cannot say I mind," Solaire teased at the received compliment, his beaming smile now on full display.
The warrior of sunlight extended his hand. "Join me."
Grasping his extended wrist, Solaire helped him over the final step, and the two walked to the end of the balcony together. Casivir's gaze turned to the sun that never set. The Hellkite Dragon had retreated to the Burg as he had refrained from going up against it. Turning back to his companion, he immediately met sapphire blue gazing into his emerald green.
Solaire had donned a wistful expression.
"You have done well, indeed you have. You've a strong arm, strong faith, and most importantly, a strong heart. I am in awe, really. Yes, yes..." he added far more soft-spoken than before.
The sincerity of his words –- accompanied by the expression on his face - had Casivir's brow furrow.
It almost sounded... fond.
...but only a fool would think there was more to it than mutual respect.
Just two lonely Undead finding refuge in friendship.
Lonely.
There was that word again.
"What do you think?" Solaire asked, looking at him intently. "Why not join me, as a warrior of the Sun? Righteous knights, guardians of all that is good, in the name of the Lord of Sunlight!"
Casivir's eyes went wide.
"Only if it would please you, of course," Solaire quickly added. "Well?"
"A Warrior of Sunlight? This is what you wished to ask of me? I would be honored."
"Oh! Magnificent! I knew you would fancy it! Then, join the Covenant! Here, stay still for a moment..."
He didn't have time to respond before calloused hands wrapped gently around his, cupping them, gesture resembling a prayer. Not that he minded it. There was this gnawing feeling at his insides wondering if every joining was this intimate.
By the way his body reacted, he would assume it was a 'no.'
Solaire released his hands. "And there we are. Now, just say a prayer at the Altar of Sunlight, right there. Then you shall know the brilliance of our Sun," he said, taking a step back with the same glint in his eyes.
Eyes searching the broken statue of Gwyn's firstborn, Casivir pushed his body towards it.
He felt Solaire's warm eyes upon him as he did. Genuflecting before the statue's feet, he placed a Sunlight Medal at the old stonework, head bowing down as he palmed his hand above the coin. Within seconds, he could feel something blooming up in his chest, a warmth that he was sure he had never before experienced. It was the power harness of the Sun itself. Everything appeared clearer as the fog lifted.
Pushing his body up from the floor, his gauntleted hand caught his attention as he felt a numb glow. He frowned. Stutters of lightning began to circle his every digit and nearly made him jump. It was captivating. His expression softened, enthralled by the way such rapid lines moved, an utmost respect for miracles themselves although he had never been able to cast them.
"Exhilarating, is it not? The power of the Sun! I am blessed to have found such a brave companion!" came Solaire's voice, affection in his every word. "Now, I must ask, do you remember where you put your soapstone?"
"It is draped around my neck. Why do you ask?"
"Allow me?" he asked, reaching out.
With his permission, he lifted Casivir's elite knight helmet from his head and placed it under his arm. The simple black band that his White Soapstone was attached to caught in the plate somewhat - dragged up from underneath his plaid shirt - but was shortly released and fell back to his plated chest. With practiced hands, Solaire clasped the small stone between his thumb and forefinger.
Only then did Casivir notice that it shone a bright yellow.
It had been a dull white before.
"Fascinating... I must admit, I know little of miracles. What is the significance of this?"
He caught Solaire's beaming smile. "Yes, it truly is fascinating! The soapstone changes its color dependent on which Covenant you belong to! Most of the Covenants depicts a dull white. However, for the Sunlight Warriors, it is this magnificent gold yellow. The Path of the Dragon is a striking black. For the Darkwraiths, the color red mixed with the infamous Abyss. There is also the Darkmoon covenant, an appearance close to the Darkwraiths, but rather a dark blue than red. It is... a strange trinket, indeed."
A curious silence followed.
"Solaire?"
He snapped attention. "Hmm! Ah, oh... hello there. Forgive me, I was just pondering... about my poor fortune."
"Oh?"
Solaire released the soapstone and turned to gaze upon the sky.
"I did not find my own sun, not in Anor Londo, nor in Twilight Blighttown," he muttered, appearing dispirited. "Where else might my sun be? Lost Izalith, or the Tomb of the Gravelord...?"
"Solaire... I am sorry," he muttered, clasping his shoulder in comfort.
"But I cannot give up. I became Undead to pursue this!" he said, the glint –- although dulled - back in his eyes. "But when I peer at the Sun up above, it occurs to me... What if I am seen as a laughing stock, as a blind fool without reason? Well, I suppose they wouldn't be far off!"
His accompanying laugh appeared forced.
The admission was true, but he knew it wasn't the whole story.
Pressing his back to the stone banister, Casivir folded his arms across his chest.
"That is not all there is to it, is there?"
Solaire simply gazed upon the sun and a light breeze graced Casivir's skin as he did the same.
"Forgive my bluntness, but I have found myself growing rather fond of you," Solaire said softly, words directed at him although he didn't move. "Foolish, is it not? I do not even know your name. We have a grand mission before us and yet I cannot shake mundane thoughts like these."
"It is only human," he replied, realizing the weight of his words.
Solaire hummed. "Perhaps."
"There was a time - back at the Undead Asylum - where I wanted nothing more but to end the endless torment of undeath. Then... Oscar came. He gave me renewed purpose. I am glad your humanity remains. If anything, such thoughts –- human thoughts - will keep you moving even in the darkest times. Hold onto them." The area around his eyes drew tight. "I would hate to see you go Hollow."
Casivir sighed, closing his eyes. "Solaire, I –"
The flap of great wings followed by a menacing roar took him off-guard, his attention gazing towards the Hellkite bridge, the dragon having returned to its spot. A plated figure was seen at the other end.
He narrowed his eyes in an attempt to see better.
"Is that... Oscar?" Solaire chirped.
Casivir reached for the binoculars on his belt.
The corner of his mouth curved. "It sure is," he replied, watching in amusement as their fellow knight put out the flames on his sleeve before beginning to ascend with his shield raised.
He handed it to Solaire, who looked through the scope as well. "By the Sun, this is painful to watch. Perhaps we should offer our aid."
"Why, I would say he needed the practice."
Chuckling under his breath, Solaire shook his head.
It wasn't long before Oscar managed to ground the beast, fighting it at the bridge and unsurprisingly, had the creature perish. Casivir would like to think that his earlier feat of separating the dragon from its tail made the fight easier.
"Hmm. Oscar has always been a magnificent warrior, so I am not surprised," Solaire said, returning the binoculars.
"I would not be here if not for him."
Solaire beamed. "Well, then. I shall make sure to thank him!"
He turned his head, meeting his companion's eye, sharing his open expression that spoke far more than words.
"In terms of our earlier conversation... it is not foolish," Casivir said, bowing his head to peek up behind his lashes. "Or, well, perhaps it is... but that will make us both fools."
Casivir slipped a hand up Solaire's neck, bringing their foreheads together.
"I'll have you know that the thought has occurred to me as well," he added, eyes ahead. "You have been a beacon in these dark times."
A lovely shade of pink colored Solaire's cheeks.
"O -oh! Why, that... is certainly unexpected. Dear me. I know not what to say."
"Say you refuse to give up in your mission, no matter what obstacles you face," he replied, pulling away. "I myself need your help in seeing this whole ordeal through. Remember my blade will always be yours if you so desire it. You've only to ask."
A comfortable silence passed between them.
"Then I truly am blessed," Solaire muttered. "Do be careful."
With a soft smile, Casivir took a couple steps back.
"Casivir," he said.
"Pardon?"
He chuckled lightly. "My name. It is 'Casivir'."
He caught the smile directed his way before he descended the stairs.
Now he had another reason for not going Hollow.
A/N: More Oscar in the next chapter!