I feel like I should mention that I'm one of those people that hoard souls. Like. Even the fading souls from the beginning of the game and super early bosses. I never use them. Which is why I don't mention the BotC using them? It just never really crosses my mind to be honest.
Also! I agonized over the Aslatiel thing for like, seven years. But here we are!
And hey, I tried something a little different with this chapter? I didn't want to drag out the other interactions because I honestly, I love Lucatiel. I wanted to get back to the fluff.
That being said, I love writing Pate. Especially if your BotC is a girl because then he'd be like twelve times more confused. Lesbians?
But anyway! ! I hope you all have a fantastic day!
And maybe leave a review. Thanks.
You really don't have much to say about the Shaded Woods, aside from that Tark scared the hell out of you the first time you saw him. You try to think of ways to describe the strange manscorpian as you trudge through the area before the rat covenant, as Rosabeth will most certainly be asking all about it when you return.
Ornifex was actually very hard to for you find, mostly because you accidentally skipped over the bigger pit trap. You ended up finding the hexer though, after you scrambled away from one of the many lion warriors and fell through the wooden boards.
God, do you hate those axes. One slash and you're half dead. The force they put into those swings is both amazing and terrifying.
You did make the mistake of going through the 'online play' area in the rat king's domain (you're still not sure what to think of that) though, which ended in quite a few deaths on both sides. After killing that... Wolf rat thing, the King asked you to join his gang and you politely declined.
Heading all the way back, you take the correct path this time, and end up chatting with Gavlan. You stock up on moss too, because Ni- the Rotten is next on your list.
And then... Then you're officially the next monarch, right?
That particular thought makes you pause, stopping your search for the correct tent to consider your options. The next monarch. It's been weeks now, but its seems... Surreal. Within the next few months you could be claiming the throne.
You shake it off after a moment, and continue on your way to the Church. Stopping briefly at the bonfire and crushing another effigy to regain your human appearance (which is still fascinating to watch), you're delighted to note that Behart's summon sign is still down. He's pretty helpful in the fight too.
You expected it, of course, but it's still... Comforting. The Curse wouldn't be so bad if everyone had the information that you do. There's not even really a need to 'cure' it, as long as the Undead afflicted isn't hollowed. Death being impermanent is just amazing.
Although, you will admit its not so great as you yank your dagger out of Creighton's back. You don't think he saw it coming, to be honest. Huh.
"Well." Pate says slowly, his eyes wide as Creighton drops. "Thank you, friend."
You roll your eyes in return, irritably tucking the weapon away. "He killed one of my friends." Sure, said friend came back, but it's the principle, really. And you've had a very long week.
He laughs, "Not because he was trying to kill me?"
"Key word is 'trying'." You respond lightly. You don't want to encourage him, but you've gotta admit he's sorta... Charming. Yeah, like a viper, the more reasonable side of you hisses.
"You put too much faith in me." Pate says, moving to one of his mostly empty bookshelves and grabbing something. He offers you the key with a smile, offering, "My thanks. I've got a-"
"Come with me." You demand immediately, eyes narrowing as you take the key.
He blinks. "...What?"
"You always say there's treasure and I always end up half dead, so I'm almost certain this is gonna be the same kind of deal. So come with me." You smirk confidently, and you swear you can see the gears in his mind freeze.
"I..." He falls silent when he can't come up with a proper response, simply staring at you.
You've totally rendered him speechless. Your grin widens, a laugh bubbling in your throat. Hell yeah.
"I... I cannot assure you that it is not trapped, as I did not design it, but..." He stutters, and your cheeks start to hurt from how much you're smiling. It's so un-Pate like, especially because you've always known him as a silver tongued trickster. Unlike dear Creighton, who was very obvious with his intentions. Speaking of which, how did he avoid the law for so long?
...you'll have to ask Lucatiel about that when you return.
"But I must stay here to protect my new home." Pate finishes, crossing his arms. The defiant stance does nothing to help his blush though, which you take no small amount of pride in.
You're not sure if this is really the funniest thing you've ever seen, but it's pretty close.
"Oh?" You hum, tilting your head curiously. "Then if I do end up dead, I'll know where to find you, right? You won't be leaving anytime soon, friend?"
He freezes again, and you escape before he can completely fritz out or something. You're worried he'll start glitching through the walls and shit if you mess with him enough.
Not that you've had such a problem in the past, but sometimes you have to remind yourself: I'm in a video game right now.
It would be pretty funny though.
You make your way down to the ground level a tiny bit happier, and reach the bonfire without falling to your death (making you even happier). It's the little things, really.
Unfortunately you can't say the same when you finally make it to Freja's lair (after stopping in to say hello to Ornifex and get your rings repaired). You manage to get about halfway down before a spider lunges for your chest and you instinctively back step, only to realize how thin these walkways are. And how many, many webs there are to fall through before you hit the floor.
You're not quite sure what kills you, but it is blissfully quick. You wake up at the bonfire with a groan, looking down at your still human hands with a frown. Your life ring is, of course, cracked right down the middle, and you quickly replace it.
The dull pain in your neck as you stretch makes it pretty obvious what happened though. Makes sense, you reason. You swear you've died more from the landscape than the enemies, although they've also had their fair share of your blood.
You waste a few more minutes by the bonfire, practically curled around it as you try to reason with the part of yourself that just wants to return to Majula and take a nap.
Stop being a spoiled brat and go get the Lord Soul! You scold. "I'm a spoiled Undead." You correct out loud, slowly getting back to your feet. You almost forget to kill the spiders on your way out, but their skittering little steps alert you to their presence.
You wave at Ornifex as you pass, noting that she hasn't repaired the door you so rudely broke trying to outsmart one of the spiders.
One of the spiders currently trying to crawl up your leg (now that's fucking rude), and presumably make you into one of those... Flooded citizens. You hit it with a combustion and then bring your sword down.
No rest for the weary, it seems.
It takes you two tries after you find a good path down to the spider mom, the first a failure because of her hyper beam thing. Ugh.
You stop in the study very briefly, and, knowing these books can't be anything good with Seath's soul nearby, you set it ablaze.
You realize as Vengarl's body tries to take a swipe at you that you managed to completely miss him somewhere in the Shaded Woods, and make a mental note to return when you're feeling up to it. First you're going to take a long nap, talk to Shanalotte, and bathe. Not necessarily in that order.
"I hate Freja." You tell the Herald flatly, yanking a brush through your still wet hair.
She sits on the rock next to you, her feet swinging childishly. "She is dead." Her voice is calm as ever, although she seems a little more cheerful than usual. Probably because you're that much closer to becoming the monarch, but hell if you know.
"Well, yeah." You say slowly.
"Then I do not see any reason for you to harbor resentment." She shrugs.
"Be... Because she killed me? Well. Okay, I see your point." You did kill her in return. Calling it even is probably be the least stressful option too. "I'm a mass murderer. Thanks."
She exhales a bit louder than usual, and you think that's about the closest thing you'll get to a laugh from her. "Do you know where the last is located then? That cat might be of assistance."
"Nito is- The Rotten is down below Majula, actually. I know the way, don't worry. Can't wait for more fall damage!" You huff, reflexively stretching your legs out. You've had enough broken ankles to last a lifetime, honestly.
"Nito." The Herald repeats, raising her only visible eyebrow.
You shrug. "That's what... What the Rotten used to be. Or is? I don't know." Your head hurts just thinking about the specifics of a giant dead guy made of dozens of other dead people being reincarnated into more dead people that are probably controlled by one dead on its shoulder.
Dark Souls is fucking weird, man.
The Herald makes a humming noise, leaning back on her hands and glancing up at the sky. "You are unlike any Undead I've met thus far."
You pause, glancing at her carefully. "I kno-" I know your name too.
Your unplanned reveal is cut off before you can get the rest out, by a very familiar and very cheerful voice calling your name.
You jump to your feet, head swiveling to find her. And someone who looks startlingly similar, right down to the fine blonde hair and crooked smirk. Aslatiel. "Oh, gosh." Is all you can manage for a second, rapidly glancing between the two of them. "Ohhhhh. Gosh."
Behind you now, the Herald does that almost laugh thing. "Your knight and her brother arrived two days ago." She stage whispers with apparent amusement.
"Should I...?" You didn't actually think it would work! You'd hoped, but... Golly. You are not prepared.
"Go meet them." She prompts.
You take a deep breath and nod. "Yeah. Okay."