I had exactly two people ask how I broke my nose so I'm gonna tell you. Get ready to know me much better. Feel free to skip this tho! ! ! It won't hurt my feelings or anything like like!
So waaaaay back in sixth grade, I had gym class first hour, right, so I'm half asleep at the time. And we started class with stretches and a warm up run, every single day.
That particular day was badminton day though, which means they got out the nets and attached poles (so we could play indoors ofc) with these heavy ass bases meant to keep them in place.
And I, being who I am, was tryin to talk up this real cute girl (her name was Allison and she was completely oblivious to my sapphic flirtations) while we were running around the gym.
Bad plan.
Very, very bad plan.
Apparently neither of us were paying attention though, right up until the last second. I could see the fear on her face, and I turned to look at the pole. Just in time to smash my nose against it.
But it didn't stop there! My dumbass grabbed the pole after I collided, like to steady myself or something, and we both went down.
Im pretty sure I blacked out after that! Next thing I knew half the friggen class was surrounding me and people were asking if I was okay. Allison was is tears.
And I was just laying there like... Fuck.
And thats how I broke my nose.
Have a great day! ! !
You spend more time than really justifiable in Majula, simply enjoying the familiar faces and not-so-familiar addition.
Aslatiel seems to be fitting in nicely to the group though, despite his chilliness. He seems to be like Lucatiel in that sense, and only really opens up when she's nearby. You're betting on him loosening up over the next few weeks, and its not as if the others aren't trying.
He seems awfully creeped out by Shalquoir though, which you think is hilarious. Whenever she leaves her home, usually to whine about not being fed, Aslatiel visibly tenses and his words become even more clipped than usual.
He does have a weakness for bragging about his knightly missions though, (and while sometimes he'll stop mid tale and look downright startled he can't remember the rest) you typically end up thoroughly enamored by his stories.
It's just so cool, the whole knight thing, and you make a point of mentioning this to both the Mirrans. It's nothing new to Lucatiel, of course, but her brother seems to appreciate it.
Most evenings you end up leaning against Lucatiel while her brother goes on and on about his duties, sometimes joined by the others and sometimes just as a trio.
The only thing that really bothers you about having Aslatiel around is Lucatiel's sudden insistence to be secretive about physical affection, outside of platonic cuddles and the like.
You're pretty sure Chloanne is getting more kisses than you are at this point, and that's definitely saying something given her datemate.
Nonetheless, you don't regret helping Lucatiel find him before Aldia's. She's happier now, even more so than your first meeting. Keeping her late(ish) game dialog in mind, this is a huge deal.
You're just so happy for her! And because of her. And everyone else in Majula, you suppose. You doubt you would've had the determination to continue without their unwavering support, and Lenigrast's sassy commentary.
At the moment though, with your arms lazily wrapped around Lucatiel as she leans back and admires the view, you couldn't care less about anyone else. You're sitting practically in her lap, chest to chest.
You still think its pretty fricken cute how tall she is, honestly. Although you've recently figured out you can beat both the Knight's in a fight (you make it clear that's only a byproduct of being the Bearer of the Curse, but they both seem to think its rather impressive), Lucatiel remains the bigger of the two of you.
You're pretty sure Chloanne is the tallest of all the Majula residents actually. Although don't think you've ever actually seen Maughlin stand up long enough to figure out his height.
Huh.
"What is that face?" Lucatiel asks suddenly, moving one hand to tilt your face up.
You blink out of your reverie, "What?"
"You appear confused." She says.
"Oh. Yeah." Shrugging, you smile. "I was trying to figure out the official height ranking of Majula, actually... But that seems silly saying it out loud, so lets say I was thinking about how cute you are."
This makes her laugh, and even as she shakes her head you know she's flattered. "You are much too complimentary."
"As future monarch I feel its my duty to be as truthful as possible." You answer simply.
She raises an eyebrow. "You have a very strange idea of what it means to be a ruler."
"Thank you." You quip, smiling at her until she kisses you, short and sweet.
Much too short, in your opinion, but you're happy nonetheless. "Are you coming with me then?" You ask her, biting down on your lip. "You can stay with Aslatiel if you want. I can do this."
Her brother had vehemently refused your suggestion for him to come along after you mentioned it involved going down the giant hole in the middle of Majula (which you're thinking of putting a gate around truthfully). 'He doesn't like heights', Lucatiel explained.
You know she's torn between helping you and staying with her brother, and while you don't want to rush her, you really should get going again. The Herald has been giving you steadily more disapproving looks the more you dawdle. Carry on, Undead.
Lucatiel makes a face, not meeting your gaze. "I... I will try to meet you there. Knowing your habits of exploring, I will be able to catch up before you fight the last..."
"Ancient One. The Rotten." You supply. "Nito's inheritor."
Her lips tilt up. "You and your information. What did Nito do again?"
You're not quite sure if she believes you, even after all the time that's past since you told her. She seems hesitant at best and patronizingly interested at worst. "He was the first of the dead, unleashing maisma upon the everlasting dragons and very skilled at pissing off the Chosen Undead. He had one attack that shot swords out of the floor, and the only tell was a scream."
She tilts her head, seeming to absorb this. "Interesting. What do you expect from the Rotten then?"
You shrug, "An easy fight. Just gotta stay out of the fire and avoid the butcher knife."
She makes a humming noise. "When will you be departing?"
"Once I get up." Purposefully tightening your grip on her, you once again lay your head on her shoulder. "I'm not gonna head over there immediately though. I've gotta chat with Gilligan and wake up that one dude and then I may or may not try and find Vengarl."
Lucatiel falls silent, and you know her well enough to know she's confused.
"Another neighbor, an all around magician, and someone that wants to fight." You elaborate. "In a helpful way."
"I see. I have more time then I assumed." She says. "Assuming that you won't stay here for the next three days."
You snort. "Technically we're both Undead, I mean, I could stay here forever." You are very comfy.
"I doubt my brother would be very happy with that." She laughs.
"Hey, as long as you're happy, I can deal with an irritated older brother." You press your lips to her cheek affectionately, extremely proud to see her at a loss for words. Most of the time she deflects your compliments with little difficulty, but sometimes you seem to strike a chord that leaves her flustered and cute as hell.
It takes her a moment to recover, sitting up straight and wrapping her arms around you. She doesn't speak, but you didn't really expect her to either. Her surprised laughter is enough to fill up the silence and you hug her back lovingly.
You don't think you'll be leaving anytime soon, despite your better judgement. It's not as if Straid will mind a few more days.
Maybe I should've let him wait a little longer, you think, watching in mild interest as he picks himself off the ground with a gravelly laugh. You had offered to help him up, of course, but he left you hanging.
"Still a bit stiff, I'm afraid." He says as he picks himself up.
"I can understand." You shrug. "Take your time."
He seems amused, his lips quirking into a feral grin. "I must thank you, young traveller. I am Straid. A wandering sorcerer of sorts. I've been a guest for a very long time. But I don't think that anybody will miss me!"
"I think the some people missed your spells?" You offer. "I know I did."
"Hm-hmm…" He hums, looking you up and down. You almost feel like you should be embarrassed by the attention, but your confusion overshadows that. We did get the int requirement, right? "Very good, very good indeed. Cursed one, weak you may be, but I, Straid, will teach you my spells."
Okay. You mentally sigh in relief, smiling at the sorcerer.
You're browsing his spells and deciding what to buy first (aside from the pyromancies) when he begins, "So, how long was I petrified… Long enough for the old kingdom to have crumbled, I see. Long enough for Olaphis to rise, fall, and fade away, evidently. Why didn't anyone wake me sooner?!" He laughs.
"It hasn't been that long." You hum. "Drangleic is a relatively new country. Only one precious ruler."
"Drangleic… I've never heard the name. Is that what they call this place now?" He drags out the name, apparently judging it. "Hah hah…Very good, very good indeed."
"But speaking of yourself, what are you doing here anyway?
"The cursed ones were imprisoned within this land. Of course, you came of your own free will. Heh heh… The people feared the cursed ones like a plague. Some people would rather keep dreadful things out of sight, out of mind. In the end they swept them up and corralled them here. So very typical of meek minds, don't you think?" He says.
"Well, I'd be sort of intimidated if my enemy kept coming back too," You shrug. And you're sort of scary, buddy.
"Once people became aware of their own frailty… They seized anybody they found undesirable, cursed or no, and impounded them here. Whoever posed even the slightest threat, was removed. All so that they could sleep better at night. They even turned the great Straid into a stone! Hah hah!"
You don't respond verbally, only nodding along while he goes through his scripted speech. It only gets really interesting when they go off script.
"Many kingdoms rose and fell on this tract of earth; mine was by no means the first. Anything that has a beginning also has an end. No flame, however brilliant, does not one day splutter and fade. But then, from the ashes, the flame reignites, and a new kingdom is born, sporting a new face. It is all a curse! Heh heh heh! And it is your cursed flesh that will inherit the flame. Heh heh…"
"The flame." You repeat, biting the inside of your mouth and flexing your pyromancy hand. You know that's not what he's talking about, but still.
He seems to notice the motion, continuing with a smile, "Pyromancy was created by the ancient witch of fire. She harnessed the power of flame, and melded it into pyromancy. The witch led her daughters into war against the Old Ones. But legends are legends, and you already know what truly happened, don't you, cursed one?"
Your head snaps up so fast you wince, eyes wide in shock. "What?"
His smirk only widens, "Tell me, what are you doing here?"
Well.
You simply stare, mouth in a perfect O. He knows. He fucking knows. "I... I don't know. I just... Ended up here, I guess? I mean, you're right, I do know what happened to the Witch of Izalith, but... How did you..."
He laughs as you flounder to explain, apparently throughly entertained by your state. "Feeble cursed One, you do not even know your purpose here." He says when you fall silent, patronizing to the extreme. "Luckily you have the great Straid to assist you find it!"
It takes you a moment to process that, only for surprised laughter to bubble out of your mouth. "Th-thank you?" You finally say, smiling. "That doesn't the how you know part, but I appreciate it."
"Of course you do." He agrees.
You wait until you're sure he's not going to go on before hesitantly explaining, "The Witch didn't fight the Old Ones, by the way. She fought the Stone Dragons, the rulers of this world before the Flame. After they were defeated she tried to... Recreate that flame, but ended up making the Great Chaos that haunts Eleum Loyce even now."
"What of her daughters?" Straid seems honestly interested for the first time, and your assume its because he's learning something new.
"There were five, and a son. Three were turned into demons when the chaos Flame backfired, creating Ceaseless Discharge and two spider-like creatures. The Chosen Undead is forced to kill one of them, Qualaag, but the other can be left or mercy killed. The others... One was already dead, one was protecting her 'mother', and Qualana. She was a mentor. She's probably where a lot of these pyromancies come from, actually."
"Very good. Very good indeed. You must tell me more the next time you visit." He says decisively, leaving no room for argument. Not like you would've anyway.
It's nice to know at least one person trusts you 100%, despite the slightly disconcerting revelation he can just tell you're not supposed to be here.
Weird, definitely, but you've been in Drangleic long enough to roll with the punches.