Chapter 3: Travels, Witches, and Dreams?

Yazuac yielded nothing useful for Anri, other than the supplies she was able to pilfer. Even that wasn't a lot though. The town had been raided, pillaged, and slaughtered for everything of value. A massive pile of corpses greeted anyone who entered the town, and Anri guessed that they were probably the unfortunate inhabitants she was hoping to gain information and supplies from. There were also the bodies of about a dozen large creatures, wearing crude armor and wielding crude weapons to fit their savage and crude appearances. The whole situation reminded her of Lothric and the Undead Settlement. If she were to close her eyes then the smell and the murder of crows above would fit very well in what she was used to.

She sighed sadly on Mira's back. Even now, it seemed, the problems that plagued the Late Age of Fire were still very prevalent in this new age. If she had more time she would bury them, but she couldn't lose the precious lead she had gained on her quarry. So very quickly she ran through houses; taking crowns, food, materials, some clothes that looked like they would fit her, and she looted the stables for what supplies they had left. There was one thing though, one thing that shocked her above all else.

In the town square, before a small fountain, was an Elite Knight from Astora. She'd recognize the armor anywhere, and the surcoat, for it sat upon her own armor. The late knight was treated to some amount of respect, laying straight and holding his sword across his chest. She would take it as a sign that her Rider had passed through here some time ago. She didn't have time to bury the entire town, but after removing his bottomless box, she did bury him. His sword, she put into her own box.

He had remarkable little on him; souls that were useless now, weapons that she couldn't use or didn't have room for, clothes, but there were two things she took. A Ring of the Evil Eye…

And three flasks of Estus…

Those three, small, green bottles filled with the shining golden liquid, were probably the most valuable items within a hundred leagues in any direction. Those she put into her box without question, she would only use those in absolute emergencies but it increased her odds of success tenfold.

After a small ceremony she continued south, towards another town or village by the name of Daret. It took her some days to reach it, as she couldn't take her horse across the large river, and instead had to follow it all the way to the town. And honestly, her visit was rather uneventful. After a tense few moments and introductions they had calmed down considerably when they thought she was an Imperial Knight. She kept to her story, that she was part of an elite sect of knights and was trying to get back to her cadre towards the south. She had told them the fate of Yazuac, but was pleasantly surprised when she had learned that a young lad and an older gentleman had already alerted them to the devastation that had transpired there some days ago. She had been right, the rider had been the one at Yazuac, and now she had learned valuable information about his traveling companion!

She promised to send another message along just in case, and continued on her way south. This time it was slightly easier. She followed the horse tracks to multiple hidden campsites, and every so often there were great gouges in the dirt, as if some large beast was trampling around with equally large claws. A dragon, she would guess. She had a picture in her mind, two; actually. One of a young brilliant blue dragon, and one of… of…

She… couldn't recall it. Every time she did it brought a large spark of pain to her mind. Arni lamented her lost memories before continuing on her way. West, this time. The tracks were moving west. Looking at her map, she would hazard a guess that the rider and his companions were heading to Terim, a coastal city by the looks of it. It would certainly be quite the journey.

A few days towards Terim, something odd happened. The day started out normal and uneventful, but towards the evening she suddenly got the feeling of being… watched. Her hackles rose, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, a shiver went down her spine, and her heart rate increased. Danger! Every sense of her body was screaming at her, but no matter which way she looked, she saw nothing. Nothing! She even looked to the sky, and all she got from her troubles were the gulls. Something was watching her, something that she wasn't able to see. The sensation continued until the sun kissed the horizon until finally it went away. She didn't sleep that night, not a wink. She kept the fire going well until the morning and had her hand on her sword every second that passed by.

It hadn't happened again since then, but it wasn't something she would cast aside that easily. Something had been watching her, there wasn't any doubt about it. It troubled her, and she had an idea as to what it may have been.

Magic…

It was very prevalent in the Age of Fire, and from what she understood of it people from the academies were able to create spells from scratch. She wouldn't put it past some wizard to create a spell for spying on somebody far away. But that begged the question. If it was magic, who was spying on her? Somebody from her age? Some other power from these lands?

Magic… She never had the aptitude, and she probably wasn't able to cast miracles anymore. She didn't know many, but miracles were bound to the gods, their tales, and the belief one held to those gods and tales. Not only were the gods of her age dead, but her experiences had dulled her faith in the gods. Only the most basic of miracles would be open to her.

Besides, she could make out the city of Terim now, in the distance. She wasn't that far now.

When she had reached the gates of Terim, something amusing happened.

Two guards were posted at the gate, pikes in hand, probably footmen who questioned the intentions of travelers or those trying to get into the city. Instead of barring her way through, they stood straighter, almost as if they were standing at attention.

"Hail knight!" the one on the right called out, "What is your business at Terim?"

She was glad she had her helmet on, lest they see her amused smile, "Hail soldier, I am simply passing through for supplies, and any information regarding my cadre. Any information would be appreciated, as we have been separated after a fight with bandits."

"Sorry, lady knight, I haven't heard anything about your cadre, but you might try the castle! That's where the records are kept, and surely they'd let you in." The other soldier provided.

She nodded her head, "Many thanks friend, I'm appreciative of the information." She held back a laugh as they continued to stand and gawk. "May I enter the city?" she finally asked.

That shook the footmen from their stupor, causing them to part to each side of the gate, "Of course, lady knight!" the original soldier said.

She thanked them and praised them for their service as she passed into the city itself.

Immediately something became apparent though, a knight was apparently a very big deal around here, as while there was definitely an imperial presence here, the sight of elite soldiers must not have been common. She drew awed gazes and murmurs as she passed through the city, some stopping what they were doing entirely to watch her. It was a little uncomfortable to be honest. In Astora, knights were very common, and everywhere else there wasn't a sane population to gawk, unless the gawking was followed by frantic attacking. Here, where there was an actual civilian population not trying to gut her, it was a very shocking prospect of being seen this way. She didn't really know how to react, but luckily a plan formed in her head. Simple and tedious, but it was better than nothing. Firstly, she entered an inn and purchased herself a room for the next few days. When she was in her room, she changed. As she did that, however, she took a moment to look herself over in the small mirror that was on the desk.

A total stranger looked back at her. Her uncountable deaths had left their toll, and her nature as Unkindled led her to looking like a burn victim. Every inch of her skin was rubbery and covered in scar tissue. At least, that's what she used to look like. Now she looked into the face of a young woman, golden-blonde hair framing her face and falling just beneath her shoulders. Her eyes stared into blue-almost periwinkle orbs situated in a heart-shaped face with highborn features. It was a face that she hadn't seen in an age, since becoming a knight.

Her body was lithe and toned, defined with muscle not built from working, but from fighting for many years. All scars were gone, except for a few notable ones she had received from her time hunting Aldrich. Truly, Anri thought, the world worked in mysterious ways…

Putting aside her new, well, old look, she donned some of the clothes she had obtained from looting Yazuac. Luckily she had picked a variety that had fit rather well, and now she looked more like a merchant's daughter than a knight. But that was the point, as odd as it felt to her. She kept her bottomless box on her, hiding it inside of a pouch resting on her hip with a dagger close to the top in case something happened to her. She knew where she wanted to go right now; she had seen a herbalist's shop and even though it was a hope beyond hope, she wanted to check something.

The shop itself was odd, windows covered in thick plants and there were many odd smells coming from inside. It was a herbalist's shop, so it was to be expected, but it still caught her off guard.

Inside was controlled chaos, herbs, bottles holding odd liquids, cloth, and other randomness assorted the walls and shelves. She recognized nothing, of course, if only she was a mage…

"Hello!" came a too-cheery voice from behind her. Anri turned around to see a barely controlled mane of dark red curls wearing a smiling woman. "You're new to Terim!" she decided on saying, causing an odd look from Anri.

"How did you…"

"You smell like a campfire. Like ash." came a scarily accurate response. "Everybody here smells like the sea, are you the knight?!" she finished with a small gasp.

"Yes…" answered a bemused Anri, "I suppose I am. Your name is?"

"Angela to most, Uluthrek to others, you can use Angela!" the herbalist said with a smile that was suspiciously too… smiley? "What can I do for you? Here for potions? A fortune-telling perhaps?"

Anri blinked, letting her mind catch up. "I'd like you to take a look at something for me," she said as she reached into her box and took out a flask of Estus, the golden fire glowing faintly in the green-lit shop. Angela's eyes widened. Smile fading as she picked it up, nearly dropping it from a sudden shock.

"This is magical!" she exclaimed.

"Yes," Anri said carefully, "but not magic from Alagaësia…"

"Where then? It's warm, like a raging bonfire!"

"Anri hesitated, but she was honestly desperate; Three wasn't enough. "When…"

"Sorry?" Angela asked as she looked back at Anri, who swallowed.

How much should she reveal… "Wrong question. Now where. When."

The herbalist's eyes narrowed, "Alright then, when, did this come from?"

Anri looked at the closed door to the shop, debating. It was silent for a minute.

"… At least one age ago. How many years I couldn't tell you, but enough that the land itself has changed, and the kingdoms that once were have faded beyond legend." She looked back at Angela, who was giving Anri an odd look. "It's called Estus, and you're holding one of three remaining flasks."

There was another pause, and Anri felt like the entirety of her being was being examined.

"You aren't human." It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact.

Anri shook her head slowly, and Angela brightened, "good!" she exclaimed. "I'd think you'd lost your head if you were! You're suddenly very interesting to me."

"… And you are very strange. You're more than a herbalist." Hers was a statement as well.

"Yes! You ask the right questions, not asking "You're not a herbalist, are you?" because I am, but I'm more than that too!" Angela laughed, a bright sound, and Anri gave a weary smile. "As much as I appreciate holding this artifact, why are you giving it to me?"

"I… I was hoping that you might be able to replicate it? Or make more?"

Angela frowned for the first time, rotating the bottle in her hands, before sighing. "Nope! It's magical from 'another age' and I don't know the magic that was used to make this, so I don't know how to replicate the environment in which the Estus was made. Sorry."

Anri sighed before giving a sad smile in return. "I think I knew that already, deep down, but I was hoping. A dangerous thing. It's not any fault of yours though. I will take some healing potions if you have them? Or maybe some healing herbs?"

Angela gave an affirmative before leaving to find the aforementioned items. Meanwhile Anri noticed a large and furry creature staring at her with red eyes. Eyes that belied far more intelligence than was normal for such a creature. Her attention was drawn back to Angela though, as she set a bag on the counter, handing Anri the flask of began reaching for her purse of crowns before Angela waved her off.

"You let me hold an artifact from a forgotten age, that's payment enough for a few herbs and potions! But I do have one question." She leaned closer to Anri, as if trying to see what was beneath the surface.

"You have an item from a bygone age, you know what it's called, you know when it's from… You're from that age, aren't you?"

This woman wasn't just a herbalist, and yet, Anri felt that telling her wasn't a bad idea. Something made her put a bit of trust into Angela, or maybe it was just the comfort of knowing that there was someone who knew.

"I am." Anri nodded slowly, causing Angela to grin and hold out a hand.

"Angela; witch, potion maker, herbalist, wanderer. Nice to meet you!" a witch?

Anri held her hand out, gripping Angela's forearm when she did the same. A small smile came to her face, a genuine one this time. "Anri of Astora; Knight, Blue Sentinel, Wanderer… Unkindled. Nice to meet you as well." Angela's smile brightened as she heard the last one, as if guessing that that was what Anri was, rather than human.

They shook hands. "Well, I don't know what it was like in your time, but I hope that this age hasn't been treating you too harshly!" Angela said cheerily.

Anri flinched as her words struck some kind of chord.

It was hard to fight in water this deep. Her movements were slowed, she couldn't roll as fast, couldn't fight effectively. Her opponent… had no such troubles.

A great decaying beast lunged for her. It was too large and with too many eyes, wiry fur coating its entire body except for where its ribs jutted out from its skin, the fur stained in blood and bile. Anri called out to Horace to attack from the left, receiving no answer in return.

Where?

Anri remembered… Horace was gone, in the catacombs. Her lapse in concentration was enough. As she failed to dodge a swipe from the beast, its claws cutting straight through her armor and mail, goring her and sending her across the water, where her back painfully broke on a rock jutting out from a small island. She breathed, vision blurry, feeling too warm and too cold all at once, the water and ground turning red. She looked up in blurry vision as a great maw descended upon her. She didn't have a chance to scream.

Angela noticed her flinch, but Anri recovered from her episode moments later.

"My age… wasn't a kind one. I much prefer this one to be honest." She gave Angela a sad smile. "Don't apologize, the past is in the past, you weren't there. I'll come back if I need anything else, if I don't, then it was lovely meeting you."

Angela gave a smile, "Oh, I think we'll meet again! Maybe not soon, but we will."

It was during the knight when Anri finally had a breakthrough. It came to her in her dreams, but not like any normal dream. It was like she was a passenger in her own body, watching events unfold without having any control, and at first it didn't make any sense.

She was high above the ground, flying far away. Flying?

Suddenly a war horn sounded from just below her, Ugrals were right below her, furiously chasing someone on horseback. They were going to overtake their target.

Suddenly the world shifted as she dove downwards, landing heavily in front of the Ugrals, and then she realized that it wasn't her dream.

Who is your master?" A voice that wasn't hers yelled out, the voice of a boy, or a young man.

The Urgal sneered in front of the boy she was watching. "His name does not deserve to be given to one as low as yourself. He rules the sky and holds dominance over the earth. You are no more than a stray ant to him. Yet he has decreed that you shall be brought before him, heart that you have become worthy of such notice!"

"I'll never go with you nor any of my enemies!" declared the boy. "Whether you serve Shade, Urgal, or some twisted fiend I've not heard of, I have no wish to parley with him."

"That is a grave mistake," growled the Urgal, showing his fangs. "There is no way to escape him. Eventually you will stand before our master. If you resist, he will fill your days with

"Keep your offer and tell your master that the crows can eat his entrails for all I care!"

Rage swept through the Urgals; their leader howled, gnashing his teeth. "We'll drag you to him, then!"

She watched as the boy raised his arm, hand glowing, as the Urgals rushed at him. "Jierda!"

Everything flowed bright and the dream-not-dream shifted.

The boy was lying on the ground, and from his fading view Anri could see two things. A dragon, looking at him with concern, and an Ugral approaching them, sword in hand.

This wasn't a dream, it was happening, and it was happening now!

Anri woke up with a start, an ice cold dread gripping her heart. She had never donned her armor as fast as that night, sprinting down the streets and to the stables. She wasted precious minutes saddling Mira and rushing towards the gate.

Two guards were on station that night, making sure that nobody came in or left until morning, unfortunately the gate was still closed.

"Halt!" One shouted, "the gate will remain closed until morning, if you want to leave then–"

She cut him off, "this is Imperial Knight business and I must set off immediately! Do you want me to inform my superiors of how the guards of Terim delayed an agent of the crown?!"

The guard grew pale, and suddenly thought better of his situation, "o-open the gates!" He yelled, admirably quashing his stutter.

Anri counted the seconds that passed as the gate opened, and she was racing out of the city before it had even fully opened, pushing her horse as fast as she could. She didn't have a second to lose, and she had already wasted precious time getting out of the city.

She picked south as her direction, and as fate would have it, she saw three riders on the road, coming straight towards her. At first she thought they were humans, but as they drew closer she noticed horns appearing from their heads. Urgals.

They stopped in front of her, and she was baffled when they appeared relieved to see her. They spoke in their harsh tongue and one went past her, back the way she came. It took all of her self-control not to draw her sword and lop off his head as he passed. She turned to face the other two.

"Knight! We have news! The rider has been sighted and is heading south. We believe that his destination is Dras Leona." One of them spoke in a harsh tone.

Aha! She had a solid destination, and it seemed that the rider had gotten away!

"We're already sending word of this, but you could help if you tell your fellow knights. We're setting a trap. The more people who know, the tighter the net closes!" The Urgal had an ugly grin on his face as he spoke, like victory was assured.

Shit! They knew where the Rider was, and an Urgal was already racing away to tell more people!

"Of course," she began, reaching into her box and pulling out her doll. "I'll send word right away."

The Urgals, satisfied, began to ride past her. As soon she left their field of vision she clutched her doll and began to pray.

"His knights, in service of their lord, watched as Gwyn hurled his mighty sunlight spear into the Everlasting Dragons, carving apart their eternal stone hides.

Her doll began to glow, and the air around her hand began to simmer and sparkle.

"Following their lord, each of the knights, laden in silver, reached into their faith and hurled their own lightning spears!"

She held her hand and arched her arm as if she was going to throw a javelin, and as her meager faith answered, a bolt of lightning manifested in her hands. With a thundering crack! She turned Mira and hurled the lightning spear into the back of one of the Urgals. He didn't even scream as his body convulsed and flew from his horse. He was already dead by the time he hit the ground, and the sudden shock and noise caused the other to fall from his own frightened horse. She didn't give him a chance to stand up, pulling her sword and galloping towards him, cutting his head from his shoulders as she passed him.

She held the lightning in her hand, ready to throw, but the last remaining Urgal was too far away for the miracle to reach him. Anri cursed under her breath before resuming her course, now at a much faster pace.

Anri was on a timetable now. Her Rider was known to evil forces, and he probably didn't have much time before the supposed trap was sprung. But at least she had a heading again.

Dras Leona.

She couldn't afford to be cautious anymore, she was already days behind and it seemed that everybody was trying to get their hands on this rider. They had nearly succeeded, she couldn't keep falling behind like this.

She didn't know how long it would take for her to finally reach him, but she did know one thing. That time was starting to run out

I'm on a roll lately, another chapter out a lot faster than I thought it would be! Also, thank you for the kind comments and reviews! It always inspires me to write more when you guys leave reviews, and I'm glad I'm hooking you guys on the story!

On another note, I like Angela, she was always a favorite in the books. She has that crazy scientist vibe and always knows more than you think she does. I have much more planned with her! I like the idea of Anri giving her random stuff from the Age of Fire and Angela raving over it.

Also I know it's never really shown in the games, but in Dark Souls miracles are stories and tales of old referencing divinity or one of the gods. I felt like it would be cool to have an actual story when Anri uses the few miracles she can use. I hope you guys think so too.

Things are coming to a head now! It won't be too long now, Anri's catching up to Eragon and Brom, but will she get there in time? Also, who could possibly be scrying her? Someone good? Someone evil? People are starting to take notice of our wayward Blue Sentinel~

All of that and more to come, see you soon~