Resa

RL89 - 28 VIG - 23 MND - 14 END - 12 STR - 36 DEX - 9 INT - 37 FTH - 9 ARC

Resa

"Art thou ready to begin thine hunt, champion?"

I nodded…I'd rested as long as I needed to, and if I was doing anything at this point, it was stalling. Stalling at entering the egg-covered tunnel entrance - and facing whatever might be behind it. I stood up, mentally preparing myself for whatever was to come. I could do this…I'd made it this far, on my own. I could face down whatever was beyond this, too.

I walked forward, trying to shake any lingering trepidation from my steps, but there were just so many eggs. Ranni had said I didn't need to worry about that, though…that the insects were behind me. I kept going, stepping into the entrance of the tunnel. Immediately, a wave of nausea assaulted my senses, a gag rising in my throat that I managed to suppress. The smell had gone from bad to vile, and I wasn't the only one to notice. Flies were buzzing about in a swarm dense enough it was visible with the naked eye. Still, I pressed on…I had to.

I saw three creatures up ahead, ones that I once again remembered from our time near the massive rot lake before - basilisks, much like what we'd seen in our homeworld. I knew their dangers - I knew that letting them get close was a death sentence. I held up my seal, forming a lightning spear in my hands as I hurled it at the closest. The creature lived, frustratingly - I threw another while it came rushing in, the fiend still managing to survive. It's throat sac expanded as it prepared to unleash its dose of petrifying gas - I immediately strafed to the side, getting out of harm's way. I plunged my rapier into its side once, twice, three times…finally, it went still.

However, all that commotion had roused the other two, leaving me in an even worse situation. One exhaled gas while the other scrambled forward, leaving me with no option but to retreat. I continued throwing lightning spears whenever I had the opening, but non-afflicted areas of the tunnel were growing fewer and far between. I backpedaled, knowingly running through a lingering cloud of the gas as I covered my mouth, still feeling an unsettling crawling in my skin from that brief moment. I spun around, hurling a third lightning spear that managed to take one down. The other fell soon - but by the time it did I'd already expended a fair amount of my reserves, leaving me limited on whatever was to come.

I kept going, the fly swarms continuing to thicken as I went. I rounded a corner, the tunnel finally coming to an end…though the situation didn't improve. Quite the opposite, in fact - the tunnel opened up into a much larger chamber. At the far end of the chamber was a building - low, only about one story high - but there was empty space above it, giving way to a monumental cavern. The air, the ceiling…everything seemed to be tinted a pinkish-orange, coinciding with an even worse, putrid smell assaulting my nose - I had no doubt at this point that the rot lake was close. The ground even resembled that of Caelid to some degree, with fungal growths amassing in clumps and all plant life long dead. Again, I pressed on…I had to.

In the middle of it all, was Blaidd…or rather, another shadow of the two fingers. Seeing it in person like this, I was glad that Ranni had warned me ahead of time - at first glance the two creatures looked nigh identical, and in fact held themselves similarly. A humanoid body with a wolven face, a long cloak over its back and a greatsword slung over its shoulder - it would be the spitting image of Blaidd if that greatsword were not wreathed in black flames, a feature I was sure Blaidd had never performed.

"There it is, mine champion - the source that hunts me. Slay it, and we shalt be one step closer towards ridding the world of the Two Finger's influence. Fret not the face that stands before you - it stands in opposition to everything thou hath worked towards."

"I…it shall be done, Lady Ranni." I reached for my crystalline flask, downing its contents as I watched the bubble form around me and felt a spring in my step. I would need every tool in my arsenal to help me here - if this being was anything like Blaidd, I couldn't afford to cut corners. I stepped forward, the figure turning to look at me for the first time and bare its fangs in hatred. That was enough to calm any lingering fears that this wasn't Blaidd…there was no look of recognition in his eyes, only blind hate.

The shadow dropped its sword to the ground, holding it out at its side as it stalked towards me. I watched and prepared to react, analyzing its movements. While it was still several places away from me, it launched itself into the air - a maneuver I'd seen Blaidd do many times in the past. I backpedaled, leaving room for the lupine warrior to slam into the ground directly on top of where I'd just been. Rather than an eruption of cold sorceric energy, a gout of black flame erupted from the earth. I didn't want to be caught by that, whatever it did…normal fire was bad enough.

The shadow snarled again, darting forward and swinging that blade upwards with alarming speed. I threw myself backwards, still analyzing and fighting cautiously. It had many of the same techniques as Blaidd, but they were unrestrained, more feral. Simply knowing how Blaidd fought and trying to make decisions based on that wouldn't be enough…if I wanted to fight reactively, I'd need to guess how Blaidd fought if he was more…well, more hollow.

I continued backpedaling, still observing…I knew Blaidd could take me in a fight, without a doubt - and that didn't make my odds good. I needed an edge, an insight…anything, really. The shadow kept fighting and swinging, increasingly angered by my passivity. Its swings were reckless - they were the same angles and maneuvers that Blaidd made, but less focused on accuracy, more focused on raw impact. It didn't matter where it hit…just that it hit hard. There were no openings in its attacks, either - it wasn't like the knight I'd fought in the Evergaol so long ago, that always left one flank exposed.

Or did it? I continued watching, focusing on a new theory. At the same time, I stowed my seal, retrieving the dagger Kenneth Haight had gifted me long ago - if my theory was correct, it would be the better instrument. I knew how Blaidd fought - I knew whether a swing was setting up for something more, or if it was the decisive strike. For Blaidd, even a miss on that final strike was fine - he could react quick enough that it infrequently made a difference. For the shadow, though, its heavier blows meant that its blade was embedded in the ground for slightly longer…and that meant that there was occasionally one place that was undefended, a place a swordsman already struggled to defend - but this reckless, brazen manner of attack only exacerbated the problem.

Enough waiting - I could never hope to win this fight if I never swung my blade. I stopped backpedaling, standing a fair distance away from the shadow. I knew what it wanted to do - Blaidd had done it so many times that the maneuver had to be second-nature. The shadow brought its sword up, launching itself into the air, and with a downward swing, sent that heaving blade crashing into the ground.

I blinked forward, slightly to the left, calling upon the power of the dagger to move me faster than my feet could. In an instant, I was behind the shadow, facing its back. I took a half-step forward, lunging once with my rapier. I kept a close eye on its sword the entire time, watching as it wrenched and pulled the blade from the ground. I was already backing away as it did, firing off a Needle from the distance as it brought that sword swooping across the ground, attempting to trip me.

I kept this up for what felt like an eternity - dance on a blade's edge of safety, remaining tantalizingly in reach of those sword swings, but always far enough that I could get away. Then, as soon as it reared up for that final committal blow, I blinked forward. I could usually get only one thrust off against its back, but occasionally a second managed to slip in. After that though, I was out, wary of lingering too close in such close range. Just a single hit from that blade might be enough to take me down. I looked at the bubble still shimmering around me…well, maybe a second hit.

Eventually, the shadow stopped attacking…it simply held its blade at the side, staring right towards me. It bared its fangs, sending across a silent message at the same time - make the first strike. I knew I couldn't…it was simply too risky, too likely to result in that massive sword splitting me in two. I stood back, catching my breath, the two of us at a standstill.

"You hesitate, mine champion. Can you not strike this shadow down?"

I didn't look at Ranni…I knew she was right. I couldn't win, not without resorting to…cheap tricks, at least. The shadow had finally caught on and put a stop to it…and now, I had nothing left. The shadow was fast, just like Blaidd was…but I was too. I could try striking it down with incantations from afar…another cheap trick, but perhaps one that I could bring to completion. I took a few steps backwards, adding more distance between me and the shadow - it continued to stand still, fangs bared. I took a few more steps back, ensuring I was beyond the range that it could lunge…and once I felt safe, I reached for the seal at my waist, exchanging it for my dagger.

Immediately the shadow broke out into a full-on dash, barreling towards me on all fours before lunging forward, rearing its sword back for a devastating strike. Instinctively, I tried to blink to the side…not remembering that I'd stowed my dagger just a second earlier. The full force of that blade came slamming into me, followed immediately by the weight of the warrior wielding it. Thankfully, my bubble absorbed the brunt of the blow, but that didn't stop the two of us from tumbling to the ground, the shadow landing on top of me.

It snapped forward, teeth bared as it tried to rip the flesh from my neck, but I managed to roll to the side just in time. I was trapped under it, its weight and its strength far superior to my own…there wasn't a way out of this…not without that dagger. I dropped my seal on the ground, not even bothering to stow it properly as I rolled away again, desperately reaching for that dagger to get me out of this mess. As soon as I had two fingers around it, I blinked away, reappearing a few feet to the side.

The shadow and I both scrambled to our feet as it continued charging at me, allowing me no time to think, no time to analyze. It had changed its tactics now, even more ferocious and aggressive than before - and yet all of its swings were big wide arcs, none of which slammed into the ground. Sure, those movements left it open to attack - but I had no way of knowing what would be vulnerable to try and capitalize on it.

Still, I had to - the lupine warrior was far too aggressive now, forcing me into engagements I otherwise never wanted to make. I tried the same tactics as before, but there was an element of chance now, of luck - sometimes the mighty swings would end where I'd expected, and I was able to strike unimpeded. Other times, I was wrong, and I would find myself blindsided by a sword to the ribs.

Even worse than the sword, though, were the flames it was wreathed in. They gnawed, they lingered, they clung…they burned long after the blade left me, choking the air from my lungs. Every time I found myself on the receiving end of that blade, I was forced to retreat and drink from my flask, lest those flames consume me wholly. It was a costly mistake, but one that I didn't know how to prevent…at this point, this duel felt like a war of attrition, and I didn't know whether to attribute the shadow's increased recklessness as a sign of desperation, or of confidence.

Still, I had to succeed…I had no other choice. Ranni needed this, and I was the only one she trusted to accomplish that goal. Not even Blaidd, whom I had previously assumed was her most trusted and loyal ally…no, she'd entrusted this task to me instead. Failure wasn't an option…even though it seemed like an inevitability.

My crimson flask was starting to run low, the constant missteps and miscalculations costing me each time. However, my cerulean flask was still relatively full…I looked around for my seal, finding it tossed on the ground earlier. I sprinted over, throwing myself forward before tucking in for a roll, nabbing the seal off the ground while barely rolling under a heaving swing from the greatsword. I popped back up, stepping back - my seal in one hand, my dagger in the other. It meant that if the shadow managed to get close to me, I was as good as dead. I simply had to ensure that that didn't happen.

Thus began a game of cat and mouse - the shadow was more than capable of closing ground on me while I readed an incantation, but I still had my dagger at the ready to blink me back from harm's way. Every time, the margin of error grew smaller and smaller, the shadow throwing itself at me with increased and unrelenting ferocity, now almost more wolf than man. Still, I was managing to perform the incantations - sometimes I had so little time to blink out of the way that the lightning spear went wide, but other times it hit its mark, the shadow too close to be able to avoid it.

It was as taxing on blue cerulean flask as fighting up close had been on my crimson one - in time, I started to feel the difference in weight as I'd used its power to repeatedly restore my reserves, allowing me to continue the fight. By now, though, I could tell that the shadow was becoming winded - it still hunted me with ravenous ferocity, but there was an element of sloppiness to its strikes. It lacked the strength to truly swing that sword with all the might that it desired, which caused it to leave an opening or a vulnerability that it otherwise wouldn't.

I threw another lightning spear milliseconds before blinking out of the way of the barreling shadow, reappearing at its side from afar. I reached for my flask, bringing it to my lips…empty. Begrudgingly I put away my seal, reaching for my rapier instead. The shadow saw this and reacted in kind - standing still, its sword held out at its side. The same stance it was in before where it beckoned me in for a strike - the same stance that had made me question my ability to see this through to the end. Things were different now - we were both littered with cuts, scorches, and burns, both of our chests heaving, both of our stances wavering. We were both at the end of our ropes…and it still knew that it had the upper hand.

"Finish it, mine champion…thou hast fought too long to fail now."

I knew I had to…I'd always had to. The only acceptable outcome of this was my success - Ranni's success. I took one step forward, and then another, and then another - if the shadow was going to beckon me into a duel, I would have to show why I was Ranni's champion…and no one else.

I ran in, making the first strike - a needle from a safe distance, throwing the shadow off guard with the new maneuver. I feinted to the left and waited for the shadow to commit, and then juked to the right. The shadow came down with a cleaving strike that would have caught me directly in the hip if I hadn't gotten away, but as it was its left flank was wide open. I came in for a thrust with my rapier, and even a jab with my dagger - I could afford for the blade to be left unused, not in these final moments. I tried to step away, but was just a hair's breadth too slow as that greatsword came swinging around. It clipped me in the shin, the flames stinging more than the blade itself - I came back in once more, striking at it again before retreating.

I was intentionally not blinking around…I wanted the shadow to think that I couldn't. We traded another round of blows, a solid strike at its hip for a cut against my forearm. The flames were continuing to choke me, sap my strength - I could survive one more hit at best…certainly not a second.

I feinted again to the left, waiting to see a commitment from the shadow before pivoting - and I did. As I pivoted to the right I saw that I was wrong…that the blade was coming straight for me. I knew I had no choice…I blinked.

I appeared behind the shadow, thrusting both my weapons into its back as hard as I could, hearing an exhalation of breath from its maw. I moved to back up, but I was just too slow - as the shadow spun around I lost the grip on my dagger, its blade still embedded in its armor. Hastily I reached for my seal, looking for something, anything. I knew I could throw one more lightning spear…I would just have to make it count.

The shadow was on the offensive now, realizing that my dagger was no longer at my side. I continued backing up, looking for a place to strike…without the safety of my dagger though, I wasn't willing to risk it.

That was, until I once again saw a very familiar tell - the dragging upwards of that blade, followed by the shadow leaping into the air. Perhaps it thought it could catch me off guard with the reach, perhaps it thought I simply had no answer to the leaping strike - but I knew this maneuver better than anything else in Blaidd's arsenal. I stepped to the side, and then darted forward, running past the wolf as it flew through the air.

I spun on my heels, hand already raised in the air as I felt lightning crackling at my fingertips. As I turned to face the exposed back of the shadow, I threw my rapier at its armor, hurling the blade as hard as I could and managing to sink it through his armor. I brought both of my hands up, gripping my lightning spear in both hands as I didn't throw it, but rather buried it into the shadow's back, both hands driving it into the armor as hard as I could. Electricity coursed through the breastplate and into the beast beneath as my hands beat against the armor, my last ditch effort to finally bring this to an end. If this wasn't enough…then I'd failed.

I waited for the shadow to move…but it didn't. I didn't get up for quite some time, my heart pounding in my chest, my ears ringing from the rush of adrenaline. I hadn't been so nervous about losing in…well, at least since arriving in the Lands Between. I was covered in sweat, my black robes soaked through in places…and that said nothing of the filth and grime I'd collected from being thrown to the ground. I looked like a mess…but that mess was victorious. Eventually I got up…how long it took me to gather even that much energy, I don't know.

"Congratulations, mine champion. Thine battle was hard fought, but victorious all the same. Mine goal draws closer, but there are even greater trials ahead. Through the doorway…thou shalt see."

I already knew what I'd see…the pink air, the flies, the smell, it all pointed to the rot lake. I stumbled towards the one doorway into the building, finding an elevator at the end that I stepped on. I stood there, still collecting myself as the elevator lowered, leading me to a sight that I was expecting - and yet still unprepared for.

The last time I'd seen the rot lake, it had been from above - and that had truly shown how vast and expansive it was. It was that knowledge alone that let me know that the sea of pinkish filth in front of me was finite at all - because from this perspective, it was. The sea stretched out in all directions , extending almost as far as the eye could see. I could see the walls to the cave far, far in the distance, but they barely even registered - not when there was so much…so much rot.

Thankfully, there was a grace only a few shambling footsteps away from the base of the elevator. I briefly considered turning back and returning to the previous one to avoid the eye-watering stench of the lake…but I was too tired, too exhausted. I sat down, nearly collapsing in a pile beside the grace.

"Thou deservest a rest, mine champion…take all the time thou wishest."

I nodded, unfastening Ranni from my belt and letting her take a seat near the grace. I wanted to keep going…to show Ranni that I could keep going…but I couldn't, not this time. Within the span of a couple seconds, my eyes drifted closed…time went fuzzy after that.

I woke back up, sore and bleary-eyed, my face pressed against the rocky ground. I looked around, getting my bearings, remembering that I was at the rot lake. Panicked, I looked at my side - there still was the doll of Ranni, just where I left her. I let out a sigh of relief…nothing had happened to her while I was asleep. With a groan I sat up, stretching my arms…I'd desperately needed that rest.

"Greetings again, mine champion. I hope thine slumber was profitable. We are nearing the end of mine journey…if thou hast another question, thou may ask it."

Another question…if we were nearing the end, there was only one thing on my mind. "What will happen, once you've accomplished what we're doing here? Will I be able to know when it's…happened?"

"Two questions, dearest champion…but I shalt answer them all the same. I will establish a new order, one divested from the Golden Order and its twisted beliefs. All shall find wisdom under the light of the moon, the moon of mine sorceries. Thou wilt be the catalyst for it all, mine champion. Thou wilt need to subdue the Elden Ring in order to break the cycle…thou wilt have to enter the Erdtree itself. Once the Ring is vulnerable, call for me, and I shalt come…it is only then that the rules of this world can be mended, and a new age can begin."

Enter the Erdtree…subdue the Elden Ring…in a sense, it aligned with the promise I'd made to Melina, to deliver her to the foot of the Erdtree…though perhaps now, I would have to go just a bit further. It was certainly possible…especially if I'd already made it that far.

"Now, it is time for mine rest, dear champion…this journey has been arduous, and the time for rest is short. I have one final item for you, mine champion…a key to a chest mine mother holds most dear. Thou wilt know when thou must seek its contents…the journey cannot be complete without it." The doll pulled a key from her cloak, holding it out for me. I took it, putting it in a satchel.

"Thank you, Ranni…I'll seek her out when the time is right." If the time was ever right…I'd avoided running into too many Liurnian knights on the way here, but I knew that I might still be forbidden from even setting foot in the Academy. This key…well, it likely meant coming face to face with Rennala herself again. Of course, there always was a way in…by force. If there was no other option, I had to mentally prepare myself for whatever I had to do…for Ranni.

In front of me, the doll's head had slumped forwards, Ranni taking the rest that she needed. I gingerly picked her up, tucking her back in my belt yet again. I was on my own now…just me and a vast, vast rot lake.

I approached the lake's edge, spotting a corpse nearby - that of a scholar, a sheaf of paper in its hand. I'd seen this once before, back in my first trip in the Ainsel Well - and much like then, a quick assessment of the paper revealed it as a map of the area - or so I presumed. "The Lake of Rot", it was so pointedly named…though I suppose that meant it had been like this since whenever the map was drawn. There wasn't much to the map, understandably - the lake was nothing more than a large and open area loosely in the shape of a backwards "L", but nothing was depicted inside. There did seem to be a structure on the far side - how the scholar got there I wasn't sure, but it was on the map nonetheless. I could spot two large statues in the distance with a towering archway between them - it was just about the only thing that pierced through the pink, hazy mist rising off the lake itself. That had to be where Ranni wanted me to go…but I couldn't know that for certain.

I considered my options. Trying to run across the lake was…well, tantamount to suicide. I knew firsthand how deadly being afflicted by scarlet rot could be, and there didn't seem to be a reprieve in sight to let me wait out the ailment and recover. I couldn't run…but perhaps I didn't need to? I reached for the whistle at my waist, my hand idly fidgeting with the instrument. Torrent could get me through - he was faster, and I could recall him should the affliction become too much. It was…well, it wasn't something I would be proud of, but I had no other option. This was for Ranni…for a new order, a salvation of the world. If my loyal steed had to endure a brief moment of suffering to make that dream a reality…it would be worth it.

I blew the whistle, Torrent manifesting next to me. I saddled up, gently nudging him to move forward. At first, he balked - a sentiment I understood.

"It's alright, Torrent…it'll hurt for a little bit, but I'll make sure you're okay in the end." I leaned forward, running my hand across his snout reassuringly. "Please…I won't ask you to do something like this ever again."

Tentatively, Torrent took one step forward towards the lake's edge, and then another - but after putting one hoof in the ground, he recoiled, shaking his head in rejection.

"Please, Torrent…just this once. It'll…you'll save lives, Torrent. You'll be a hero."

The answer was still a firm no…no matter how many kind words I offered to the steed, he didn't move forward. I sighed, but I understood…though it did mean that I had to traverse this hellhole myself. I dismissed the steed with another blow of my whistle, evaluating my options. I needed to evaluate my options. There were structures that poked above the rot, but they were few and far between. I needed to make short movements, reach a point of safety, and then let any lingering effects of the rot wear off. It would be a slow process, but as safe as I could be…and so I began.

I started running, my movements immediately turning sluggish as I was submersed waist-deep in the roiling rot of the lake. Immediately I felt the stinging and the burning, everything that I'd hated about Caelid's swamp assaulted me at once, but I pushed through. There was a small monolith that I was running towards, the closest thing that I could spot. Slowly, slowly it got closer, until eventually I could reach out and touch it.

Unbeknownst to me, but I managed to step on a pressure plate just at the monolith's base - and as I stepped on it, the ground began to move. Stones platforms previously unseen began to rise from the ground, creating a new pathway deeper through the lake that had previously been inaccessible. How long it had been like this, I didn't know…but it meant that, just maybe, there was a way across it after all. I rested and recovered at the monolith, waiting for the gnawing and biting of the rot to subside - and once it did, I was on my way.

The pathway didn't go far, but not far from the end of it was yet another monolith, just across another portion of the rot lake, I was too deep now to turn back. I ran across, wincing as the pain reemerged again. Still, I made it - and when I found another pressure plate at the base of the second monolith, the ground shuddered

There were a few more platforms that surfaced from the rot, sure…but all of that paled in comparison to the massive pillars that rose from the lake quite a ways in the distance, laying the groundwork for some sort of massive structure from ages past. It looked incomplete - there was no floor, no ceiling, and some of the supporting beams near the top seemed to be sheared off…but it clearly signified more to come.

I waited once more to let the bitterness of the rot subside, and I was off again. Thankfully, the platforms were a bit closer together than before, letting me jump from one to another before the rot truly managed to take hold. I went from one, to another, and then a third and fourth. By the fourth, the rot had once again taken root - but it was a much larger platform, a stone pillar at its center. I saw the next monolith just one more hop over, but waited here to catch my breath and tend to my wounds.

I was deep in the lake now, about halfway across by my estimation - far enough that I could barely see where I'd come from through the pink haze. I looked around, seeing what I could see - there were the structures I'd brought up from the lake of course. Behind that, I could see the archway that I was walking towards - a towering statue of the bearded man was at either side, a relatively unexpected sight at this point. I turned, looking to the east at the portions of the lake that I'd been navigated away from - and surprisingly I saw something large resting in the lake. Even more surprising was that it was something I recognized - but I'd never expected to see here. It was another of the strange dragons, similar to what I'd seen at the end of my first trek through Ainsel. That was when I'd first discovered ice lightning…and I couldn't help but wonder if this creature could help me unlock even more knowledge about it.

However, not now…or rather, not right now. My first priority was to navigate across the lake, and to the other side - once I'd scouted out a clear path, only then could I consider coming back. Right now my health, my crimson flask, and my cerulean flask in the form of healing incantations were all a resource, one that I couldn't afford to expend fighting a challenging opponent. I needed them to cross the lake - at least, for now.

I continued on, leaping to the third monolith, stepping on the pressure plate at its base. More stone rumbled and rose to the surface, more of the towering building erupting from the ground. It looked more complete now - though based on the bricks that came falling down from the rise, I could only assume that the true structure of the building had been lost to time. There was no interior, just a bit on the roof - but at the moment, I saw no way to get up to the roof.

That wasn't my priority - getting to the end of the lake was. Unfortunately, the most recent surge of stone hadn't revealed anything that made it easier to get to the fourth and presumably final monolith, which as it stood was the furthest jaunt I'd had to make so far. I looked down at my crimson flask…it was getting empty, soon to join its cerulean counterpart in that regard, but I was close…so close.

Head down, I began running, trying to push through to the end. My legs burned - both from the exertion, but also from the rot. My lungs ached from constantly inhaling the noxious fumes, my eyes watered for the same reason. Still I endured - I had to. I had to stop halfway through, quaffing the final drops from my crimson flask. That brief bit of energy gave me the strength to push through, and keep running. Soon, I felt one foot hit the edge of the monolith's base, a silent cry of joy echoing in my mind. My other foot hit the pressure plate…success.

The ground began shaking once more - and a moment later, I began to rise. I shook my head, looking around…this wasn't where I wanted to be. If this was connecting with the rest of the building, it was far too high to get down from…if I wanted to make it to the other side of the lake, I had to get off…now.

I ran, throwing myself through the air as I braced for impact into the lake. Rot splashed and sprayed up in the air as I made contact, covering most of the upper half of my body that had thus far remained relatively clean. The burning intensified all over, the pain even worse - I had to go, and now.

I made it the base of the towering archway, but I didn't stop to let the rot wear off. I couldn't afford to, not this time...there was nothing left, the only thing keeping me alive being my own strength, my own stamina. I sprinted, now unimpeded by the sluggishness of the rot. I noted some platforms on the opposite side of the structure from where I'd been - perhaps that could serve as a useful tool for returning if I needed to. For now though, I ran…I ran like my life depended on it.

I rounded a corner, making it through the archway and into the building beyond. It was dark - I could hear the sounds of a waterfall - rotfall? - up ahead, the pink haze subsiding. I charged onwards, coming across a stone staircase that led down into the structure beyond. At the base of it was a grace - a single flickering light in an otherwise dark chamber. I just needed to make it that far…that far, and I'd be safe.

About halfway down the stairs, I started to feel everything go numb. My legs moved on instinct alone, piloting a brain too foggy to change its current course. I couldn't fail, I couldn't die…not now, when I was so close. I had to get there, to prove that I could…for Ranni.

Three quarters down and my foot caught the space between two steps, my entire body lurching in response. I tumbled face-first onto the steps, the fogging, mind-numbing pain of the rot overpowering the impact on the stone that I knew I should feel. I didn't bother to get back up - I ran on all fours like some kind of animal, like the shadow I just killed. Getting up would cost time - time I didn't have.

I reached the base, the grace only a handful of seconds away. Everything was starting to go fuzzy, my motor control slipping. I wasn't even sure if I was still moving - the world spun around me, indifferent to whatever I was, or thought I was, doing.

My leg went completely limp two steps from the grace, my body collapsing beneath me. I didn't know if I was crying from the pain, or from the rot, or from the fear of not making it to the end…the fear of dying…the fear of dragging Flynn into this.

No…get the fuck out of my head, Flynn. You don't belong here.

With one last desperate push I threw myself forward, clawing on my hands to carry me home. I extended an open palm towards the dancing grace, beckoning it to light for me - and as it did, my head hit the stone ground.

Again, I woke up, twice now I'd been driven to the brink of collapse. I at least remembered where I was this time, I got up and brushed myself off. I still wanted to see to that dragon - now that I'd made it across, I could afford an excursion back out. I made my way back out, hopping from platform to platform back to the larger one with the lone pillar, about the closest I could get to the dragon. I'd used a little less than half of my flask by the time I got back…I'd have to fight a pretty clean fight if I wanted to make it back. I was prepared for that, though - I'd been caught by surprise by the last one, but now I was prepared. Without delay I reached for my seal, forming a lightning spear in my hand as I hurled it across the lake, towards the dragon - hopefully that would be enough to get it to come closer.

With a roar the slumbering creature awoke, looking around for the source of the intrusion. I threw another lightning bolt, this time it's head whipping my direction, its slitted eyes fixating on me. It clawed its way towards me, arms dragging it through the lake as its back limbs were too weak to support its weight - a pain I'd just become too acquainted with recently. I put away my seal, instead reaching for my dagger - if this fight didn't go as well as I'd hoped, I would need my reserves to get me back to the grace. Incantations would have to be on an as-necessary basis…and given that the previous one was nigh-invulnerable to lightning, I doubted they'd be useful anyways.

As the dragon continued clawings towards me, I clocked several differences with its appearance. Firstly, the rot - much like several of the creatures in Caelid, plant-like growths were sprouting from its body in various locations, showing just how long it'd been trapped down here. Secondly, and far more importantly, was a blade - it was wedged into the side of its head, far out of my reach, but even from up high I could see a distinctive crackling of white lightning along its dark length. It had to be ice lightning - too many things lined up for it to be a coincidence. However, I needed to figure out how to get that blade…or perhaps I didn't.

As the dragon finally approached me, I waited until it had climbed onto the other side of the platform, giving me just enough space to maneuver without having to worry about falling into the rot. I rushed forward, ducking under a slamming of its arms as I worked my way towards its back, not even bothering to attack it yet…not until I had that blade in my hands.

Deftly, I plunged my dagger into the exposed side of its leg, giving me just enough leverage to pull myself up and on top of it. The dragon thrashed about, trying to knock me off of it, but I'd done far more reckless things in my life and lived to tell the tale…in the grand scheme of things, this was nothing. Once on top of its leg I started making my way towards its back, thankful that the creature's deteriorated legs made for a gradual slope up to its head. I ran across its cape as the dragon clawed at its back in another desperate attempt to shake me, but its arms just couldn't find the angle.

From its back, I reached its neck - and then, its head. The blade was in sight, a beautiful curved blade made from a strange material, a sort of dark stone…though it looked like it was far more than that. I reached out, one hand grasping the hilt of the blade as I wrenched the blade free, pulling it from the dragon's head. In many ways, it reminded me of the katana I'd lost at the start of this journey - it felt only fitting that I'd find something superior to replace it near the end.

I slid from the dragon's head, along its back until I landed behind its legs. I remembered last time that it struggled to reach back there, its arms simply lacking the rotation to reach me. I gripped this new katana in both hands, stowing my dagger…it felt good. It felt right…but one thing wasn't adding up…I'd seen lightning crackling along its length, but now there was none. I needed to find it…to unlock the weapons full potential.

I brought the weapon crashing into the ground on instinct alone - and as I did, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, seemingly from nowhere…and struck the blade. In an instant, white lightning arced and crackled along the blade's entire length, stopping at the crossguard. Ice lightning…I knew it from sight alone, the slight bluish hue of strange power. Still, I wanted to feel it - feel the strength of that power now manifest in a blade, not merely confined to an incantation.

I sliced the blade up, along one of the dragon's legs. As expected, the lightning dissipated due to the dragon's natural resistance, and to my disdain the frost seemed to as well - the flesh momentarily chilled and frosted over, but by the time I went to swing again that frost was all but gone. Thankfully, the razorlike edge on the blade still cut true, each slice rending the wrapped bandages around its leg and striking at the flesh underneath.

Finally the dragon managed to break itself free of my attack, pulling itself forward with both arms before spinning about, facing me once again. Still, I stood tall…I wasn't worried, not now, not with this. A hand swung forward, crashing down into the stone where I'd been just a moment ago - but I had leaped to the side, slicing my blade at its wrist before it had a chance to pull back. Slice…it felt silly to miss such a simple thing, and yet I did. The rapier, though strong, was limiting…its movements weren't at all like what I was familiar with. This blade, though…it moved, it swung, it glided like many of the weapons I'd wielded before, in a way that just made sense. One motion flowed fluidly into another, the weight just a hair's breadth heavier than what I was accustomed to - but I found that extra weight comfortable.

I rushed closer to the dragon's core, darting past its arms. It was here that I could truly do significant damage, and I wasted no time. The katana arced and raked across the dragon's body time and time again, shredding more of the bandages into tatters and leaving harsh wounds all across its body.

Soon, the lightning crackling along the blade's length went dull, the katana once again becoming just a piece of strange, sharpened stone in my hand. Like before, I plunged it into the ground, that specific motion causing lighting to shoot from the sky and suffuse the blade once more. The specific motion, the specific outcome…if I didn't know better, it must have been the weapon's Ash of War, something I'd not bothered to spend much time learning about. If Flynn were here, he'd -

No. Out of my head. My thoughts belong to Ranni, not you.

I dragged my blade up, carving a deep swath across its arm before pivoting, dashing forward to strike at its chest. The dragon was slow - its movements lethargic due to the rot, as well as its general state of decay. Even better, it seemed to lack the ability to fly like the one I'd fought at the bottom of the Ainsel well…that made it all the easier to overcome. Cut after cut, slash after slash - each one brought it closer to its demise, its defeat.

I continued fighting, not stopping until I was certain that the dragon was dead. In time, that reality became true…its body slumping over from the myriad of lacerations I'd given it with this new blade. I exhaled, satisfied…I knew from experience that this foe was no laughing matter, but my victory against it had been…rather decided. I sheathed my blade, satisfied to see that it slid snuggly into the sheath of my previous.

"Well fought, mine champion, and a suitable reward for thine victory."

The voice was initially startling, but only because I assumed she was asleep. "Thank you, my Lady. This weapon should help me see this through to the end…whatever that might be."

"Fret not, Resa…that end is fast approaching. Whence thou next rests, make sure thou art as prepared as can be - it will be the last rest thou gets for some time."

I nodded, the message clear - the final stretch was ahead of us. I made my way back across the lake, still enough liquid left in my flask to get me across. I made my way down the steps, sitting down at the grace.

The final stretch…I could hardly believe it.