I actually really liked writing Creighton! He's real cute and I wanna punch him! !

So the next chapter(s?) probably won't have Lucatiel, which is devastating news, I know. I could always just glaze through this Lord path though? Decisions, decisions. Lucatiel's doing her own thing, and she might just save Alsatiel.

The real question is how AU-ish we're gonna get, you know? Hmmm...

Gotta admit I'm super stocked to wake up Straid though, which we will be doing very soon.

Hope you all had a super great thanksgiving (if you celebrate it) and if not, welcome to the weekend!

Lucatiel presses a kiss to your forehead when your paths split, flashing you a small smile. "I will meet you in Majula, in no more than two weeks." She repeats the agreement the two of you had come to, and you nod. She's going to be searching the area a little more before heading towards Aldia's Keep, while you're going straight to the woods.

"Hopefully I'll have another soul and you'll have a plus one, right?" You reply softly. You pride yourself on not frowning when she slips her mask back on, although you're childishly displeased.

"Indeed." She laughs, pausing. "He... Aslatiel would like you."

"God, I hope so. Considering I'm courting his baby sister and all." You smile, happy to be able to say those words.

Lucatiel hesitates, very carefully reaching out to run her thumb over your bottom lip. "You are making this much worse than I assumed."

You raise your eyebrows.

"Leaving. I didn't realize how much a challenge it would be to say goodbye, despite it being temporary." She explains, abruptly turning away.

I feel your pain, you think. "See ya later!" You say instead, laughing halfheartedly.

Waving, she calls over her shoulder, "When we are reunited, remind me to kiss you senseless."

She says it in such a matter-of-fact way it takes you moment to comprehend her words.

"Wait- Yeah. Okay!" You finally agree, blushing furiously. That's my knight. That. Is. My knight.

And damn if you aren't ridiculously happy with her.

You sort of expected to feel like hell walking away from Lucatiel, but now you're just... Blushy. You would say 'walking on air' but that's both much too cliche and physically impossible.

Course, so is being Undead.

You snort at your own ridiculousness, leisurely making your way forward. You have to smile when you reach the spot you un-petrified Rosabeth, only to remember how she ended up petrified. Jeez, are basilisks fuckin creepy with their big ole goggly eyes and teeny tiny actual eyes. You bring your sword down on it as quickly as possible, and quickly use a wide swinging attack on the...

You narrow your eyes, lips pulling back in mild disgust. "What the fuck even are you guys?" You ask, as if the creatures will answer.

They're like... Scaly. Demon Souls-esque, only with... You don't even want to think the word. Too vulgar. They're also very annoying enemies, and you get hit twice by their claws. Gross.

You continue on your way after slaying them, taking the time to light the bonfire. You don't bother resting though, seeing as it would only waste time and revive the basilisk.

The walk over to the next bonfire is pretty calm, and you find yourself returning to silently judging the environment. It's so... Decrepit. More so than any pre-pollution word has any right to be. As if the entire world is dying.

The very idea makes your skin crawl.

Not nearly as much as when you see Creighton though.

He's pacing in front of the bonfire room with his bloodstained axe lazily dragging behind him, although it looks like excited, full of energy pacing rather than anxiety caused.

"Uhh, hey!" You call as you draw closer, not accustomed to him being so lively. He's always struck you as a pretty chill dude. Well, aside from the murder thing. That's far from chill.

He goes rigid, whipping around to face you so quick you flinch.

"Eh, it's jus you! I remember you!" He laughs darkly. "Don't scare me like that. I thought you were him."

"Yes, because we have such similar accents." You scoff, glancing around curiously. "What have you been up to?"

"Searching for that bastard with the ring! He's holed up in Brightstone Cove down the way, living in one of their shacks." He growls, his good mood apparently lost. You have to wonder what spurred it on in the first place.

Whatever. It probably isn't important, you figure, setting your weapon on your back. "You sure do hate his guts." You prompt.

"Nobody insults me like that! Leavin me to rot in that hideaway. I'm gonna find him and settle the score." He brings his axe up offensively and you skitter backwards.

"Woah, there." You say, warming your pyromancy hand.

He just laughs, bright blue eyes fixing you in place. "Don't worry, I don't wanna kill you. You're my savior." His last sentence drips with sarcasm, making you roll your eyes.

"That's the only thing stopping you from trying to kill me?" You answer.

"Yeah." He shrugs as if he hasn't a care in the world. "You know that one with the strange sword? Makes a mighty fine trophy."

It takes you a few seconds to actually process his words.

Blue...

Your eyes go wide and your flame flares up violently. "What!?"

"You knew 'im? Didn't really put up a fight. Figure it doesn't matter anyway, seeing as we're all Undead here." He seems awfully proud of himself, and completely oblivious to you're literally white hot anger.

You're usually pretty good at controlling your temper. It's something you pride yourself on, in fact. But you are livid at the thought of him killing such a kind person. Sure, he lacks tact, but he's friendly and you know he plans on offering to help you.

And he didn't even put up a fight?

"You killed Benhart?" You say, still unwilling to believe it.

Creighton tilts his head, his voice becoming mocking, "Didn't hear me the first time?"

Calm down. You are the future monarch and you cannot let your temper get the best of you. Take a deep breath. You do just that, willing the flames licking your forearm to dissipate.

"Pate's house is just past the cathedral. You can't miss it." You say slowly, feigning helpfulness. "I'll be seeing you!"

He seems startled, barely managing to lift his hand and wave as you dart past.

If you help Pate kill him you can both keep your hands relatively clean, make a new ally, and avenge your friend.

You light the bonfire on your way out, still too pissed to remain nearby.

And here you thought it would be a total pain, trying to decide who to help. You've sealed your fate, friend.

You make it the the Lion city with little difficulty, sticking to the right wide of the Shaded Woods and trying your best not to aggro any of the ghosts. The Sun ring seems pretty cool too, if not a bit suspect. How does the explosion not injure you too?

You contemplate warping back to Majula as you lounge near the bonfire, although you don't have any particular need to. You stocked up on life gems before leaving, and you haven't died yet, so there's no rings in need of repair. That feeling like you're kissing something has returned with a vengeance though, and glancing over your notes does not help. Apparently this area is some kind of NPC hotspot. You can already check Creighton off the list, but that leaves Vangarl, Tark, and Ornifex.

Sounds like fun! You think, not at all sarcastically.

Getting to your feet, you stretch out leisurely and glance over at the petrified Lion Warrior. You've got three branches at the moment, but you know Tark will give you a third after Najka is... Taken care of. You wonder if its really necessary to kill her.

Maybe they're just having marital problems. It's really not any of your business.

She is blocking the path though...

You brush it off after a moment, climbing onto the fallen tree and revive the Warrior. It takes even longer than it did for Rosabeth, leaving you plenty of time to scamper backwards and out of the axe's range.

It takes the Warrior enough time to recover that you manage a backstab, and it is down.

Well. "It was super effective!" You say dryly, grabbing the key. Time to save a birdy blacksmith.

And get wrecked by a giant basilisk.