Flynn

RL50 - 27 VIG - 13 MND - 21 END - 25 STR - 14 DEX - 12 INT - 10 FTH - 7 ARC

Resa

RL50 - 15 VIG - 15 MND - 12 END - 12 STR - 23 DEX - 9 INT - 34 FTH - 9 ARC

Resa

After a short break, we were back in the Hold once again. I didn't want to waste any time…I was more than curious to see just what Roderika had learned while we were out exploring.

She'd certainly settled in since last time - An outstretched piece of fabric had all manner of books, manuscripts, and writing utensils strewn about it. Roderika was sitting on the floor, feet tucked beneath her, as her hands held one such manuscript. Despite the items she had, I couldn't help but feel like it was still so barren…she was sitting on the floor in the middle of a hallway, not even a side room to spare. I wasn't going to judge…I knew the Hold was crowded.

As soon as I saw her, so too did she see me - and when she did, her eyes lit up. "Resa, you're back!"

I smiled, nodding. "It's good to see you again. Your hood has proven helpful - I hadn't realized just how rainy Liurnia could be."

"Oh I haven't traveled that far north before, but I've heard the stories. I'm glad it's to your liking. I know you've not been gone long, but I can see it in your face. You've experienced things, gotten stronger. I've grown too…Hewg's taught me quite a bit about spirit tuning. I think I'm ready to start, if you're willing."

"Of course, Roderika. I came back because I wanted to see how you were doing. Aurelia helped us fight a very fearsome creature, but I'm worried that our opponents are growing too strong for her. I think this will be of great use to her, if you're ready."

"I am. However, you'll need something called…oh, I believe it was 'Glovewort'? It's a plant that grows underground. You haven't happened to find any, have you?"

"As a matter of fact…we may have." Flynn opened up his crafting kit, retrieving the plants that we'd happened to pluck while underground and in the catacombs. We had quite a few - maybe ten in total. "Does this look correct?"

Roderika's eyes lit up once again. "Oh it is…I think most of what you've found is called 'Ghost' glovewort…but this right here - " She reached over and plucked one out of our collection, looking at it. "This is 'Grave' glovewort. The difference is…strange. Some spirits are…shall we say, 'simple'? I do love Aurelia and I know you do as well, but at the end of the day she is but a jellyfish, and little more. Spirits like that use grave glovewort. Some spirits are of individuals though - a specific, heroic warrior. Such spirits require ghost glovewort. I'm surprised you've found so much of it, truly…from what Hewg told me, it's rather rare. Where have you traveled?"

"We went deep, deep underground…we explored the ruins of an old civilization. I don't know that we've found any spirits that would qualify as heroic…" I looked at Flynn, shaking my head in bemused frustration. "Most of what we've found have been the ashes of skeletons, in fact. Something I assure you I have no intention of using."

"Oh…I'd no idea Those WhoLive in Death could even become spirits, that's very frightening. In any case, the grave glovewort you've found is small, but it should still aid Aurelia. The process can be repeated, but you'll need more and more potent glovewort for it to have any effect. You can usually tell by the number and brightness on the bulbs. May I have Aurelia?"

I nodded, handing over the urn containing her ashes. "Here you are."

"Excellent…now, to see if I can do this."

"I'm sure you can, Roderika."

The woman smiled, but set to her task. It was a rather elaborate ritual - Roderika plucked the bulbs off the glovewort and placed them around the urn, then began speaking a very long incantation. As she did, the bulbs began to glow a faint light, as if Roderika's words were imbuing them with power. After several minutes of rapt attention, she made a sweeping movement with her hands - and suddenly, all of the bulbs were condensed down into one singular entity. Roderika completed the ritual by opening Aurelia's urn and placing that silvery white light inside.

"There…that should do it. I'm sure Aurelia will be much tougher for you when you need her next, I'm sure! Please…come by if you find any more glovewort. I want to make sure you're safe, and to do that I'll make sure your spirits can protect you."

I picked up Aurelia, placing her back in my belongings next to Argyn's ashes and the two imps. "I appreciate it, Roderika…truly, I do. If there's anything else we can do to help you get settled here, or just anything in general, always know you can speak to us."

"Thank you, Resa, but I'm fine for now. Hewg's been very accommodating. I fear he may even have built up a backlog of work while he was teaching me, I haven't seen him look away from his anvil in quite some time."

I looked over at Hewg - once again, the Hold's blacksmith was tirelessly working away at yet another armament. We'd found a fair share of smithing stones…but if he had a backlog, perhaps it would be best to wait.

"I can see you have other things on your mind. Thank you for visiting, Resa. Safe journeys out there."

As I turned away to walk back towards the main table, Flynn tapped my shoulder, getting my attention. "I'm going to visit with Fia…I haven't checked in on her since my first visit. I'll see if Hewg has some spare time as well, but I doubt it."

"Alright, I'll meet you back at the table when you're done." As he splintered off from me, I made my way back to Corhyn. The blinded priest was still there in the corner, and just like last time he not only sensed that someone was coming, but that it was me.

"Oh, hello again Resa. I pray your travels have been fruitful? Am I correct in hearing that you managed to face Godrick and emerge victorious?"

I nodded. "Yes…it was a difficult fight, but we managed to put him down."

"Perhaps you have it in you to become Elden Lord, then…there are very few that possess the strength to tell such a tale as defeating a shardbearer."

I shook my head. "I…respectfully, Corhyn, I have no such aspirations. He was a vile man with vile intentions, nothing more. I've no desire to become a Lord."

At that, Corhyn seemed slightly displeased. "Ah then…it cannot be forced. What brings you back to me then, Resa? Interested in learning more incantations?"

My hands idly fidgeted at the book clutched beneath my arm…I still hadn't thought of how to broach this topic. "In a way, yes. In our travels, we came across a…prayerbook, I believe. I can read miracles and incantations and learn how to apply them, but…I think it takes a true holy person to read the prayers to the gods themselves and turn them into incantations. I was hoping that perhaps you could help me in that regard?"

Corhyn clapped his hands together, nodding. "Of course, Resa…I'd be delighted to do so. To further one's knowledge of the Two Fingers is to understand our purpose in this world. I would be - "

"It's…I don't think it's a prayerbook for the Two Fingers."

There was a long, drawn-out pause as I finished those words, as Brother Corhyn registered exactly what it was that I was asking of him. "Oh."

"It's…if I understand correctly, it speaks of dragons." I flipped through a couple pages, re-reading some of the scripts. "Perhaps some sort of cult?"

Corhyn's hands rapidly approached mine, closing the book with my hands still around it. "Resa…what you propose is heresy. It is against everything that the Two Fingers teach. Are the words within this book something you wish to know so much that you would ask such things of me?"

It was a leading question, and I knew it…and yet, I willingly stepped into it. "I…I know what I'm asking of you Corhyn, I do. I know far less of these lands than you do…and while I know that the Two Fingers hold immense sway and power here, I know there are other forces as well. I wish to understand everything that I can, so that my decisions are informed. To study only one god and ignore the teachings of all the others is…for a holy person, I understand that it makes sense. But for an adventurer, it is limiting. Dragons are fearsome creatures. I may well need their strength if I am to continue my journey."

I'd said my piece…I just had to hope that Corhyn understood where I was coming from. He stood contemplatively for quite a while, his hands still holding mine, and mine still holding the book. Finally, he put his hands on the book and let out a deep sigh. "Just this once, I will glance. But I will not read out of reverence, only out of intellectual understanding. I can, and will, decipher the incantations that are taught in this book…but once that is done, I wish to have nothing else to do with it."

"And I will ask nothing more from you, Corhyn. I admire and respect your focus on the Two Fingers, and I'm grateful that you would budge on that focus for me."

"As long as it is understood, I am fine. Now…let me get this over with. The book, if you wouldn't mind."

Oh…we were doing this now? I thought for sure that I would need to come back later, but Corhyn proceeded to take the book from me, flip it open, and read it at a rather incredible pace. How he read it, I had no clue…and I wasn't going to question his methods. I stood there quietly as minutes passed by, until finally Corhyn closed the book and looked up at me.

"There are several teachings in this book that I believe I can pass on to you. Give me just a moment, and I can transcribe them."

"Corhyn, you don't need to rush, I can come back later if that would be easier."

He furiously shook his head as he pulled out parchment and began hastily scratching out the first of presumably several incantations. "No, Resa…I must insist I complete this now. The sooner I am finished with this, the sooner I can return to the teachings I know and follow." He multitasked with ruthless efficiency, flipping the book back several pages to re-read a prayer while simultaneously continuing to write down the incantation with the other. I'd never seen incantations written like this…but I could only imagine this was far from the intended method.

Soon, he set aside one piece of parchment, and began working on another. A second followed, and then a third. His eyes did one last scan through the book before he closed it hurriedly. He handed it back to me, as well as all three pages. "This is what you've asked for…and I have delivered. I must insist you give me time to come to terms with what I've just read. Though it has not shaken the foundation of my faith, there are things that I must mull over. I hope you find what I've provided suitable."

I glanced down at one of the pages - though the handwriting was shaky and sloppy, I would be able to decipher it with enough time. I am, yes. I…I'm sorry, Corhyn. I knew I was asking much, but…I suppose I didn't realize I was asking this much. I will not come to you with a request like this again."

He nodded. "And I appreciate it. Now please…leave me to myself."

I did, promptly taking a step back towards the table. I took a seat, waiting on Flynn to return.

But then…he didn't. I passed the time, walking to the merchant near the end of the other hallway. There wasn't much left that we cared to purchase, but they still had two Stonesword keys that I took off their hands. When I returned, Flynn still wasn't back. I took a seat, my thoughts idly flitting by for what felt like a minute or two…and still, I was alone.

I got nervous - perhaps something had happened to him? Gideon made it very clear that there was to be no combat in the Hold, but perhaps there were loopholes, or exceptions. I stood up, walking slowly towards Fia's chamber, careful to not make a sound. As I crossed into the hallway, I got a brief glimpse into her room - I saw Flynn close to the ground, kneeling in front of a bed. He was moving, and I heard noise from inside - a conversation. I moved silently to the side of the door, remaining intentionally out of sight. From there, I remained motionless - I felt bad, spying on my brother like this…but he'd given his pyromancy flame to her, a woman he barely knew at the time. Part of me worried that he was getting…attached. I simply listened, trying to glean what I could from their discussion.

"Fia, I understand what you're asking, but…I'm not sure that I can do what you're asking of me."

"What I ask is not a demand Flynn…if you wish to withdraw, you may do so. I suppose I thought, given your prior, gracious gift, that…"

"That was the past. I did it because I believed it would benefit you. In a way, I suppose it did, but that does not hold me to future obligations."

"Again, I understand my champion, but - "

"Please…just Flynn. Fia, you're talking about reincarnation, reanimation…undeath. I can't help you if that is your goal."

"And why is that?"

"Life requires an end. To force eternity onto something is…wrong."

"And why is it wrong? To give another a second chance at life?"

"I…Fia, where I come from, I saw the literal end of the world. A time when life carried on for so long, that there was nothing left to sustain it. A life of endless dunes and crumbled buildings. What you're looking to do…if others do it as well…it's not healthy."

"Why then, do you continue to walk? Have you not seen death in your travels? Have you not been brought back during your journeys. I understand what you are saying, Flynn…but I urge you to consider my words as well."

"Fia, I…I don't know why I come back from death. Not here, anyways. In my past life, though…I sacrificed myself. I intended for it to be permanent. And when it wasn't, I sacrificed myself again. I don't have an answer to that - but I don't live expecting a life without end. I want an end. I want…closure."

"I see. I do not disagree with your point of view, I just believe it is shortsighted. There is much to be learned from the spirits of those that have passed. Perhaps you will come to understand in time…and if not, then I will not continue to bother you. Safe travels, Flynn…I will not keep you."

I didn't wait to hear if any other words were spoken - after that I quickly made my way back to the central table. I didn't know everything…but I think I'd heard enough to fill in the gaps. Understandably, I agreed with my brother - the experiences we'd shared in Lothric had been more than enough to leave a lasting impression.

A few moments later, Flynn came out of the hallway, immediately locking eyes with me. "Hey, sorry about that…I didn't think I'd be so long. Ready to get going?"

"Anything you need to talk about?"

He shook his head. "No…some things to think about, I guess. What about you?"

"Well…I have quite a few incantations to read over, but we don't have to do that here. There was an Erdtree even further to the north…want to keep heading in that direction?"

"Sure, let's go." We transported ourselves back to Liurnia, slightly west of where we'd descended into the underground. Before we set out, I wanted to take time to learn the incantations that Corhyn had taught me - given the apparent pain he went through, I could only hope that it'd be worth it.

First…Electrify Armament. At first glance, it looked like the effect was quite similar to Flynn's Scholar's Armament, but for lightning. So perhaps it wasn't a fluke, then…perhaps the dragons of this land were innately attuned to lightning. The alternative was that they taught their followers ways of slaying dragons, which was…quite unlikely. I set the scroll aside for now.

Second, Honed Bolt. This one seemed unique - an effect unlike any I'd heard of. It caused lightning to strike down from above towards an adversary, the source not originating from me. On my first read, it made sense - and indeed, made me question why all of the lightning miracles from my past didn't originate from the sky.

Finally - as my eyes scanned the title of the incantation, my heart skipped a beat. Lightning Spear…a name so familiar, so personal…so core to how I learned to defend myself, that it filled me with a sense of familiarity. As I read the rest of the script, I was comforted by the fact that it was nearly identical to what I knew already. Some minor tweaks to account for using seals, rather than talismans…but still, it felt like home.

The last incantation was Frozen Lightning Spear…the one we'd recovered off our recently fallen opponent. It seemed to function similarly to the lightning strikes that I'd been using. However, the page spoke of lightning so cold that it chilled the bones, and the strength of casting the incantation alone was enough to momentarily lift oneself into the air. This incantation…it was powerful. The dragons of this land were not only feared, but also worshiped - and unlike the dragons we knew, lightning was their friend, not their bane.

However, I didn't need to worship dragons to use their incantations - I could pray to the gods that I knew, mostly formless as they were. The strength of dragons was mine to wield all the same. As I set to preparing what incantations I would bring with me onto the field though, I decided I couldn't bring them all with me - I simply wasn't that powerful yet. I brought Lightning Spear, as well as its frozen counterpart, as well as my healing and lastly Electrify Armament. I considered removing the healing in favor of Honed Bolt - it was rare that Flynn needed my aid anymore, what with his flask that did most of the work for me. Still, it was better to have it than to not, and my improved arsenal would be enough to give me a fighting edge in the days to come, I hoped.

With my affairs in order, we mounted up on Torrent and continued our trek to the north, riding along the ridge that bordered the underground river's entrance. The Erdtree I'd noted earlier stood proudly far in the distance, surrounded by jagged spires of rock protruding towards the sky.

By the time we were close enough that we were engulfed by these spires, I saw a familiar statue in the distance - not of Radagon, Godfrey, or Marika…but of the bearded man underground. It looked slightly ruined, much like the state of its underground companions - but the mere fact that this civilization was both above and below ground fascinated me…and also sparked the question of why it wasn't anywhere else.

Guarding the entrance to the ruins was a towering humanoid figure nearly as wide as it was tall, and clad in furs that were clearly tribal in nature as well as a pair of decorative horns on its head. Its skin was a sort of blui-ish black, and as we approached it pulled out an axe that looked to be carved from the jaw of some animal and charged at us. Flynn and I leaped off Torrent, quickly managing to dispatch it between the two of us.

As Flynn started to walk inwards, I called out from behind. "Maybe we…go somewhere else?" When he turned around and gave me an exceedingly quizzical look, I explained myself. "What we just saw underground…it looks like this. And maybe the people here are the only people left of that civilization…at least that we know of. It doesn't feel right, coming through and attacking them like that. Not after what we saw down below. Does that make sense?"

"You…do know they'll come back, right? Everything does here."

"Right but…just because it does, doesn't mean that it needs to." While I well and truly believed in the words I was saying, I also wanted to steer Flynn away from Fia's line of thinking - that just because we seem to come back, it means that others should come back…things that likely shouldn't. We've had a long life filled with little more than killing…and I was perhaps ready to start considering whether we should kill, rather than what. Skeletons, constructs…some things lacked sentience, and I had no problem laying those to rest. The evil forces in this world as well…in fact, I delighted in it. But these people, simply living their lives and guarding their homes…they didn't need death.

"Well…alright, I guess. Was there anything else around that you wanted to explore?"

I pulled out the map. "Based on the topology, I don't think there's much we can go to. However…" I turned to my right, facing eastward. "There's a long trail starting from around here, heading to what looks like a dead end. Something tells me that's not the case. Nobody makes a road going nowhere."

"Well then…that's convenient."

"Why's that?"

"Gurranq's eye, it - something's in that direction. Another deathroot, based on how things have been going. That pull's been getting stronger as we got closer, but I can definitely feel something to the northeast."

"Well then, even more reason to investigate. Let's go."

As we saddled up on Torrent again and departed, calling it a road may have been a bit of a stretch - there was barely enough foot traffic along this route to make the trail distinguishable from the tall grass around it. As we rode we passed by another massive bear that we managed to skirt past - and then, a plethora of jellyfish. A whole group of them lined the road as we went further and further, all with the same translucent blue tone to them, floating aimlessly about in the air.

Finally, we reached the end of the road - and there, standing in wait, was clearly a guardian. It glowed a shimmering gold and bore a sword in one hand, shield in the other. Two strange wings sprouted from its back, but they looked to be part of its armor, not its anatomy. And finally, most noticeably - it lacked a head, and its sword glowed with a black and gold aura. Behind it was a door set into the stone - if we wanted to go further, we'd have to fight our way through.

Even as we dismounted Torrent it stood there waiting - and given that, we both prepared. We downed our flasks and prepared our armaments - my katana crackling with electricity, Flynn's halberd thrumming with magic. It was only after we were within a rushing distance of it that this mysterious figure finally reacted…by disappearing from sight.

It reappeared, directly in front of me, and lunged forward with its sword. I didn't have enough time to react - I wasn't expecting this thing to teleport. As the blade struck me in the side, however, I felt a wretched sensation crawl through my skin, as if my very body wished simply to die. I backed up, taking a second to compose myself…whatever had just happened, I feared what would happen if I got hit again.

"Stay agile…and if you can, don't get hit. That blade's powerful."

"I'll do my best." Flynn immediately took a few steps back, reassessing his position. He put away the halberd and pulled out his sword and staff, just as the phantasmal knight disappeared once more. This time, I was ready - as it reappeared to my side and lunged forward I rolled out of the way, letting my blade slash across its legs as I hit the ground and tumbled, popping back up to my feet. I left another parting slash on its back as I distanced myself once more.

Flynn's tactic was right - we needed a way to fight from afar. I put away my scimitar in favor of my seal, calling upon the dragon incantations that I'd learned - they would be more than satisfactory here. As the knight disappeared again, this time it reformed near Flynn, attempting to catch my brother off guard.

It was time…as I prayed a few words into the aether, I held up my seal letting lightning form into a tangible bolt in my hand, crackling with familiarity. I knew exactly what to do - how to aim it, how to account for a moving target, everything…it was as natural to me as breathing or swinging a sword. When I let the spear fly, it flew forwards with utmost precision, striking the knight directly in the shoulder, precisely where I'd aimed. That act alone drew its attention away from Flynn, but that didn't bother me. It disappeared and yet I still formed another bolt in my hand - no matter where it showed itself, I would find it.

It attempted to reform behind me and catch me unawares, but there simply was doing so - I was in my element. As it lunged towards me I spun around, managing to unload the spear directly into its torso, despite not even seeing it prior. I followed the throw up with a nimble backstep, deflecting its blade with my own only to dig my heel hard into the ground and spring forwards. I slashed my katana across its chest, pulling back as Flynn fired off a salvo of glintstone stars at it from afar.

The knight backed off once again, clearly frustrated at my perceptiveness…it was going after Flynn, almost certainly. That was fine…I wanted to try out my other incantation as well. "Be ready to dodge, Flynn…I don't know what this will do."

"Doing a lot of that, currently." The knight tried to sideswipe him but he managed to just avoid it, putting some distance between him and the knight. After making its maneuvers, the knight always stood there for several seconds, as if planning its next attack - and that gave me my time to strike.

As I began to cast Frozen Lightning Spear, it felt as if lightning began to flow through my very being. As the manuscript had said, I felt myself begin to lift into the air, the sheer amount of power coursing through me seemingly enough to drag me to the sky. I lifted my hand up, a much larger and more potent bolt of lightning forming within it - a cool blue, same as the dragon we'd taken it from. Unlike lightning spear, though, I wasn't to throw this - I was to thrust it into the ground, and send its power radiating forth. I did so, slamming the bolt into the ground at the same time my own feet returned to the dirt.

What followed was much faster than the non-frozen version I'd been practicing. Bolts of lightning cracked down in four or five iterations, blanketing a wide arc in front of me with sheer, frigid lightning. The knight had no clue what to suspect - and thus, when a bolt struck it, it was completely unguarded. The knight stopped mid thrust as the lightning arced into its shoulder and across its entire armor - and in that moment, it gave Flynn a chance to bring his halberd down in a mighty blow, sending the various pieces of armor scattering.

Flynn came over, sheathing his weapons. "What exactly did that blade do to you?" Flynn came over to me, looking down at where it had struck me. I hadn't thought to look at the wound - and after glancing down, I still wish I hadn't. Protruding from the slash were wicked black barbs, as well as a general blackening of the skin…it looked sickly. I quickly healed the wound and it sealed back up - and though the barbs faded away, it was still dark.

"I don't know…but it felt like my body was trying to kill itself. We'd best be careful in here - this may be a sign of things to come."

"I'll do my best, but agility isn't exactly my area of expertise." Flynn walked over and opened the door, revealing a stone staircase leading in. It looked to be another catacomb - skeletons littering the sides, and stone arched ceilings leading us inwards. A grace awaited us just inside - we took a moment to activate it, and then continued on.

We descended in, following another staircase down. A skeleton began rising from the pile of bones around us, though it barely managed to form before we took it down. Yet again, it tried to reform - but after another blow, it stayed down. At the base of the stairs was a familiar sight - two skeletal statues on either side of a door depicting the Erdtree.

"Well…at least it's consistent. I suppose there's a lever hidden somewhere."

I nodded. "Yes. Hopefully there's glovewort around here as well - it would be good to see if we can aid some of our other spirits, or aid Aurelia even more."

"I'll keep an eye out." Almost immediately after he said that, we found one growing against a wall, just before another staircase leading further into the catacombs. I collected them as we descended, just as two more skeletons began forming.

Once again, we struck them down - and yet, that seemed to do nothing. I swung at one as it began to reform, striking it so hard that a bone went skittering across the stone floor. And yet it still continued to reform, the remaining bones simply adjusting for the loss. To my left, Flynn nearly pulverized one, lopping off an arm and crushing several ribs. It still reformed - only to be struck down once again in a seemingly never-ending cycle.

"We're missing something. I don't know what."

I looked around - to our left was a wall of fog, a familiar imp statue sitting beside it. Perhaps it was something in there? "Let me try something." I rushed over, fishing out one of the two keys I'd just bought, and plugged it into the socket. The fog dissipated and I rushed inside, Flynn following behind me.

Inside wasn't much - a few stone coffins, as well as two other skeletons - wonderful. The only thing of note was an odd axe being clutched by a desiccated corpse near the back - perhaps it had the power to fight through these skeletons? I rushed over and picked it up - far too heavy for me. I spun around, lobbing it in the air towards Flynn. "Catch!"

My brother grabbed it, immediately spinning around and clocking a skeleton across the neck with it. Though it did damage the bones, nothing additional happened - I had hoped that it would be a divine weapon, but perhaps not. Still Flynn continued fighting with it, trying to make it work. As time went on though, it was clear that something wasn't clicking between him and the axe.

We managed to fight off the two new skeletons - they seemed to fall and stay down like normal. It wasn't after we'd taken down the first two a fifth time that a lone figure came running at us from down the hallway. It looked almost like a peasant but bore a long torch that it gripped in two hands - a torch that burned a vibrant white flame. As we knocked a skeleton down, the figure made a gesture…and it was only then that the skeleton began to reanimate.

In a flash of movement I conjured a lightning spear, hurling it at the figure. It struck him squarely in the chest with enough force to send him careening into the back wall before slumping over. As he did, both skeletons immediately froze in place as if in agony - and then finally, fell into a pile of bones on the floor.

"Necromancers…we'll have to be on the lookout."

Flynn barely even seemed to hear my words, instead looking down at his new weapon. "This axe…there's something weird about it." He twisted it over in his hands, examining it. As I got closer, I realized just how elaborate and strange it was. Rather than a traditional blade, a curved arc of bladed steel arced from the top of the shaft all the way around, only directly connecting at the top. Along that arc, however, four skeletal figures hewn from metal looked to almost latch onto the shaft, their waists sprouting from the curve. I had hoped that it was a holy blade…but perhaps it was the exact opposite.

"Weird…beyond how it looks?"

Flynn nodded. "Yeah. There's magic in the blade - magic I can't quite tap into. I can hold it easily, but when I was swinging it at the skeletons just now, it felt like there was something I was just…missing. I don't know how best to explain it.

"Well, you're not obligated to keep it, if you don't want to. It certainly looks a bit…evil."

"No…I'll hold onto it. We used one of our keys for it, and I'd rather that not go to waste. It may very well end up with Hewg for a while, though."

I sighed…first skeletal spirits, now skeletal weapons. If we ever found a sorcery or incantation that made skeletons, I think I'd snap. "Alright. Well, let's keep watch for necromancers. I imagine we can't take out the skeletons until then."

"Sure. Let's go."

Having hopefully figured out what was going on here, we continued deeper into the catacombs. As we approached the next chamber, I heard heavy slamming sounds coming from within - a mechanism, of some sort? Upon rounding the corner, I confirmed it - three bladed guillotines lined the next chamber, rising up and slamming down into slits in the floors. Upon our entry, several more skeletons rose from the ground, one appearing on a balcony far up the wall - though I saw no way to get there. Unfortunately, I also couldn't spot the necromancer quite yet - but there was a doorway beyond the guillotines, so perhaps it was hiding like the last one.

Well, no sense in fighting these quite yet…it wasn't like we could keep them down. I rushed forward, running beneath the first and second guillotines. The third came down moments before I would have crossed under it and so I leaped to the side, kicking off the wall to give the extra boost to jump over it as it fell. I looked around to see Flynn taking a much more methodical approach…not that I expected any acrobatic maneuvers from him in the first place. I fended off the skeletons as he plodded along, waiting for each guillotine to fall before stepping over it, and repeating until we met back up.

On the other side was another staircase that housed one final skeleton that I temporarily knocked out. Beyond it, much to my disappointment, was simply a ladder leading below…still no necromancer.

"We need to figure out how to get up on that balcony. I have a feeling that might be where we need to go."

I nodded. "Well, we're not out of options yet. Let's keep going." We descended the ladder as the skeleton began to reform, leaving it alone.

At the bottom was a muddy basement of the catacombs, a plethora of crabs residing down here, as well as a fair bit of glovewort. Additionally, staring at us from where we entered was the levered statue - behind a heavy, iron grated door. Even worse, I spotted the lever to open said door on the opposite side - there was no way through.

I looked around, scratching my head. "I think this is a dead end. What now?"

Flynn paused for a moment, thinking. "Well…we need a way up to that balcony, right? I can try to vault you up there. We've done it before."

"And what about you?"

"If you can open that door, I might be able to reconvene. I can hold out down here for the time being, it seems relatively safe."

"Alright…I think we can make that work."

We headed back up into the guillotined chamber. The plan worked flawlessly - Flynn set his shield down at an angle as I ran onto it and compressed my legs in a maneuver I'd grown quite fond of. As he thrust his shield upwards I leaped to the sky sailing up, up, and onto the balcony. As soon as I landed I spotted the necromancer, promptly dispatching it.

"You good?" I heard Flynn call out from below.

"Yeah. I'll see what I can find." I continued forward, staying vigilant for danger - I was on my own. Ahead was a much larger chamber with statues of three-headed cats wielding crozier's staves lining the wall. Several skeletons also patrolled the area, but so did yet another necromancer - and with a single lightning spear, all of them fell to the ground. I turned a corner and walked through a columned doorway into a final chamber. Ahead of me was another columned doorway, though the door had been bricked over. To my side was a much smaller door that simply opened up to a chute leading below - likely my destination.

I leaped down, landing on the familiar muddy floor, but this time on the other side of the grated door. I pulled the statue first, hearing a low rumble in the distance, and then walked over to open up the grate. Flynn was waiting for me on the other side.

"Looks like you found what you were looking for?"

I nodded. "Nothing I couldn't handle. We should be able to go back to the entrance now and find that deathroot."

We made our way back, finding the door open as expected, leading to a descending staircase and a large doorway.

Beyond that doorway was the guardian of this place - a strange, insectoid like creature, though seemingly made out of shadows. The only corporeal part to it was a dark curved blade in each hand, each no longer than my scimitar. As we entered the chamber, three skeletons began to appear in various locations around the chamber.

"I'll take…whatever this is. You clear the room."

"Got it." I immediately unloaded a lightning spear into the closest skeleton, sending its torso flying backwards. As it began to reform I leaped forward and struck at it again, ending the process - I let out a sigh of relief. Whatever this shade was, it wasn't serving as their necromancer. Another skeleton soon fell, leaving only one left that was shooting arrows from the back. I ran up, ready to strike it down.

"Look out!"

I spun around just in time to see a blast of sickly green energy arc into me from the shade. As soon as it did, my entire body seized up - even something as simple as breathing felt like it would take more effort than I could muster. The shade appeared in front of me only a moment later, its head opening up to reveal something…I couldn't quite see what. All I knew was that it was descending upon me, ready to take advantage of its surprise attack.

Flynn came barreling in, shield first as he charged into the shade just as I felt its oddly-cold appendages grasp onto my scalp. The paralysis began to fade away over the next couple of seconds while Flynn attacked the shade. Landing two heavy blows upon it. Once I recovered I took out the final skeleton, leaving just the shade left.

Thankfully, it fell quickly. Its advantage was in stealth and ambushing…and with the two of us here, that just wasn't an option. One more solid hit from Flynn knocked it back, and from there it was finished.

And thus, our spoils. In the back of the room was a chest - and inside were two things. One, an urn - we'd been told that spirits resided within catacombs, and it seemed that it was holding true. The second - a deathroot. We collected both and stowed them away.

"So…ready to leave?"

I paused at my brother's question. My mind went back to that bricked-over doorway…something felt wrong about it, but I didn't know how to explain it. "There's one last thing I want to investigate, if you don't mind waiting a bit. Back up, past the balcony."

"Alright, sure. I can get you back up." We navigated back around, Flynn vaulting me back up once more. I walked down the now-empty corridors and reached the end. I stared up at the doorway, reaching my hand forward. Perhaps a mechanism was set into the bricks? I wasn't -

I expected my hand to rest on the bricks, but it passed through harmlessly. I nearly stumbled forward but caught myself, my hand still residing partly through the wall. Tentatively I took a step forward, and then another - and now, all of me was beyond the wall. Behind it, the corridor only continued a bit further. A third pillared doorway sat at the end, though this one had a heavy door set within it.

So, something was hidden back here…but what? I contemplated seeing if we could get Flynn up here, but I just didn't know how. Beyond that…if I went back and told Flynn about this, he'd insist on finding a way up…and it wasn't worth it. For now, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him…so long as it didn't hurt me too gravely in the process. Without mulling it over too much longer, I opened the door and stepped through.

Inside looked to be some sort of altar or place of worship - but I scarcely had time to inspect the room due to its prior occupant. It was one we'd seen before - an assassin clad in dark garb, wielding a strange, tri-pronged dagger in one hand. From that dagger came a wave of black and red energy, arcing straight towards me followed by a trail of sparks. I barely had time to close the door before I dove to the side, the wave crashing into the door behind me. I hurriedly got back to my feet, just in time for the assassin to practically float towards me and strike at me with its dagger. I felt the blade sink into my arm as it grazed by, the assassin just as effortlessly disengaging from me.

I reached for my katana and dagger - there was no chance that I'd have time to perform incantations, not without my brother here to draw attention away from me. And even if he was - this assassin moved with a measure of grace, fluidness, and sheer amounts of cunning. I doubted it would buy into Flynn's distraction if it noticed me preparing something. That meant I had to fight blade to blade…against something that, in many ways, emulated a fighting style I wished to perfect.

As it lunged at me, so too did I lunge at it, both of our blades grazing off of each other before barely catching the other's shoulder. I spun around, but I was just too slow - its movements were faster, and I felt a cut against the back of my neck mere milliseconds before I could do the same to it. It was as it knew what I wanted to do, and then simply did it better than me out of spite. My grip tightened around my dagger…fine then. Time to do things it couldn't do.

It leaped into the air, intending to catch me unawares from its usual quick, nimble movements. I took a step back, anticipating its landing - and then promptly blinked around to its back, left intentionally vulnerable. A quick slash with my katana as well as a thrust with my dagger, and I backpedaled - no need for further engagement. The assassin took a step back, pausing for just a moment, as if re-assessing me…perhaps I'd shown my hand too early.

I decided to hold off on blinking again - perhaps draw it into a sense of security. We resumed our deadly dance, the two of us continuing to land grazing blows against the other - though in nearly every exchange, I ended slightly worse for wear. It irked me…to fight something that emulated the sort of grace and deftness that I strived for, and to decisively fall short. Every time it landed that extra strike against me, or managed to sink its dagger into me slightly more than I had it, I couldn't help but feel equal parts pain and inspiration - inspired to learn just how it developed those skills, and what I needed to do to match it. Despite me having nearly an arm's of extra reach with my katana compared to its dagger, it didn't feel like it - in fact, it always felt like it had the reach advantage against me.

However, inspiration wasn't going to keep me alive…I needed to defeat this assassin, and to do so I couldn't continue to play by its rules. After yet another biting pain on my arm, I blinked around to the side, landing an unmitigated hit against the assassin's right flank. As I retreated, again came that pause…it now knew that it wasn't a fluke.

I started to blink a bit more liberally - I had no other use for my magic reserves, and being able to dodge its strikes very well could decide the victor in this elegant duel. My crimson flask was starting to draw low - as much as I hated that I needed to cheat to win, that was something I'd reconcile with my conscience later - after I walked out alive.

The fight started to go in my favor - I was still suffering my fair share of blows, but now for every one I received, three or even four were dealt back in exchange. The assassin was clearly growing frustrated, its extensive training not aiding it taking down a target that didn't stay still. Its attacks became less precise, but more forceful - if it was going to hit me, it wanted to make it count.

I dodged to the left, blinked to the right, and swiped. Backstepped, lunged, blinked, and swiped. Every attack had a follow-up, every movement served to set up the next - I was growing comfortable. Again, a backstep, then a dodge to the left, then right, then blink, and finally - where I expected to see a vulnerable right flank was instead the shadowy visage of the assassin, lunging forwards with hand outstretched. It grasped my cloak firmly, its path continuing forward as it nearly bent me over and onto the ground. I could see it raising its dagger up, poised straight for my heart - and as it plunged its blade down, my entire world instantly flickered off.

I felt my head hit the floor, mind fuzzy as every single neuron rapidly fired out in excruciating pain. I…wasn't dead? It certainly didn't feel like it…returning to my senses usually didn't feel this agonizing. That meant I was still in the chamber with the assassin…and likely, it assumed I was dead as well. I slowed my breathing, hoping to keep up the facade now that I was aware of the situation - and very tentatively, I opened one eye to assess my surroundings.

Blackness, surrounded by a shadow veil - my heart skipped a beat as the assassin gazed into my very soul, apparently acutely aware that I wasn't yet dead - and simply wanting to make me suffer. My instinct told me to roll out of the way, but I knew that I wouldn't make it - I'd be properly killed before I even managed to move. I did the only other option and blinked away - I frankly didn't care where I ended up. My body reappeared a short distance away and I scrambled to my feet, the assassin's trained eyes immediately on my new location, and it immediately launched another wave of dark energy at me. I dropped to the floor as I rolled under it, springing back to my feet before blinking around behind it - my flask was empty, and I didn't have time to perform a healing incantation. I needed to end this quickly.

I left a deep slash up the assassin's back followed by two quick jabs with my dagger, and then retreated. When the assassin turned to face me, I could tell it was showing signs of pain - but unfortunately, so was I. It simply stood there, not moving, not attacking, just waiting - it knew I had to approach it, and it simply needed to react correctly. My mind weighed the options - its blade was in its right hand, so perhaps the left? Or would it expect that, so perhaps the back was best? Or maybe go for the obvious and hope it didn't think that far ahead…I didn't know. I weighed the options for a few seconds before reaching my conclusion - potentially a stupid one, but one I hoped it didn't expect.

I took one step forward, and then two. After a third, I blinked forward - directly in front of its face. It hadn't anticipated that, its body contorting to strike around at its rear - and that served to open up its entire flank to me. One dagger wound, and then another, followed by a strike from my katana. As its body began twisting back in my direction I blinked around to its other side, plunging my blade as far as I could into its chest. With that, it finally slumped over, a surprisingly light weight now resting limply on my dagger.

"You were…I've learned much from this. I spoke the words as I laid its body to the ground as it began to dissipate into a cloud. In its absence was once again its dagger. This one seemed to carry a bit of a blue tint to it. As I picked it up, however, I noticed an odd shimmer along the blade, something that hadn't been there on the previous one. As I inspected it I saw…words? It was in a language that I couldn't read, but I could certainly identify it as text. I stowed the dagger away…perhaps I could find someone to translate at some point.

For now, however, I needed to return to Flynn…but more than that, I needed rest. My body still ached from the innumerable cuts and gouges that I'd suffered, and now that the adrenaline was leaving me it felt like I could barely move. I stumbled out of the chamber and back into the hallway, limping my way back towards Flynn. At some point though, I tripped, fell…and lacked the strength to get back up.