Author's Note
Sorry that took so long, but I'm still trucking away at this. I've got so many other stories I'm working on, and I think they are worth a read.
Uploaded
11/10/2023
LEGEND BELOW
"Greetings! I am Oscar of Astora!" = Normal speech.
''Doth thee find my appearance unpleasant?''= Normal thoughts.
Chapter 5
The first bell/Freedom
Rated-M
She'd closed her eyes and let the darkness take her, deciding then that wherever she ended up, whatever became of her after this moment, it was better then the cold lifeless world she'd been forced into for so long.
She'd become tired, so very tried of her lonely cold existence.
Anything was better.
Anything besides that cold dreary lonely world she'd long spent her days.
And so she jumped free from it, letting the void magic send her wherever it decided, her fate in the hands of an old lost magic power.
Then, all she knew was darkness.
An all encompassing darkness…
And then, suddenly, there was light!
She was so surprised by the sudden warmth of the world that she failed to land properly, and suddenly found herself laying belly down on the cold golden paneled floor of a massive castle room.
She'd thrown her hands out to brace herself in the last moment, stopping her face from making painful contact with the ground.
She sucked in a shuttering breath, eyes widening as she took in her surroundings.
She was free.
She was out from the cold painted world!
She…!
She was finally free!
"O-Oh, I can't believe thine eyes…" The great dragoness breathed, eyes trembling. A warm and new and different air caressed her lips, tickling her lungs.
This wasn't the cold lifeless land of her snowy castle, but a warm one, yet still touched by darkness of cold. It was warm, yet it felt fleeting, like it too could one day go out.
Even so, it was a warmth that existed, even if only for the moment that she lived it.
And she was going to relish in that moment for as long as it lasted.
For, even that, was better the returning to her cold lonely castle.
She went to stand, only to realize that she was not alone. Her eyes widened when she took in the beings that all stood around her, ogling her like fleeting younglings.
For a moment, her heart skipped a beat.
Were these the people that she had sought? Was one of the beings in white before her one of the men that her heart desired, the man that she yearned for?
The man with green eyes that she could sense so powerfully, so lustfully?
At first, she thought it to be so.
But…
Then she truly looked.
And when she looked, she saw.
Undead.
These people before her were long lost children, people that had become lost in hollowing like her father had mentioned all those years ago.
These too, like the shambling zombies of her old world, were mindless Hollows that had forever lost their way.
None of these were the man that she sought.
None of these were the one she desired.
No one standing before her could hold a candle to the one she lusted after in her heart.
It felt as if the wind had been taken from her in that moment, but, she did not allow such a realization to burden her forever, would not allow it to stay her feet here and now.
She stood up, spooking the lost humans in white as they went scrambling away.
She didn't care for them, didn't care what they thought of her, if they even thought any more.
She moved for the only exit in the vast castle expanse that she'd found herself in, coming upon a doorway that she had to duck to properly navigate through.
However, upon reaching the outside, she was blessed with a new sensation.
Warmth!
"Oh!" She exclaimed in delight, an odd and new shiver traveling down her spine at the feeling of the sunlight touching her unblemished skin.
It was so warm, so delightful, so beautiful.
She wanted to bask in it, enjoy it for all it's worth.
Freed from the blistering lands of the cold, she could finally remove her fur coat, revealing her naked flesh to the outside air.
And oh how delighted she was, to finally feel something other then the shivering colds of the snowy lands caressing the large swell of her bosom, the smoothness of her belly, the claws of her toes and the gaps between them.
Oh how she longed for this beautiful feeling, and now that she had experienced it, she was loath to ever return to the cold wastelands of where she'd come from.
But this wasn't enough for her large greedy heart.
She wanted more, for, the warmth of this sunlight was not nearly enough to satisfy her.
She desired him. She desired the man with green eyes, the man that teased her mind from afar, his dedication to her strong enough that she could sense him, even from beyond the rift in the worlds.
She wanted him, to feel him, to experience his touch.
What would it be like?
Would it be warm, like the world she found herself in now?
Or, would it be cold, harsh?
She didn't know, despite how much she wanted to.
She wanted to know, oh so desperately. She would find him, take him as hers, never let him go.
She needed to find him, hold him, take after him.
Before…
Before he too was lost to this accursed hollowing that took so many in this world.
And, when she finally had him, perhaps she would flee to another country, another land…
Perhaps, even another world, taking him along with her.
The magic must exist, she believed it to be so.
The magic that lead to her cold and frozen world had been created.
Perhaps magic existed that could take her to another world, one devoid of that terrible cold. To a world that was warm and comforting, full of life and beauty.
A world that wasn't so dreadfully full of death…
That's what she wished, and she hoped beyond hope that it existed.
She sighed, looking up to the sun resting high in the skies above, seeing its rays spread across the land.
She felt a newfound determination swell within her bosom, and she tossed her coat aside, the fur coming to rest within the abandoned castle from where she'd appeared, her naked bosom free to feel the warmth of the light.
She'd not need it anymore, casting away her old life, her old world.
It reminded her of what she was, where she'd come from. She desired to be reminded of it no longer!
She was free now, and she was going to revel in it.
Just before she could begin her venture from the chapel she'd appeared within, she stopped as the sound of a bell echoed across the land...
When the three warriors of Astora broke through the lines of undead that filled the halls of the church, what lay in wait for them were the twin Gargoyle's, two large beasts of fire spewing origins.
They ran out atop the roof of the great church, sliding to a stop as the mighty gargoyles fell from the bell tower that they'd been seeking.
"My fellow knights, prepare thy selves! Separate and conquer, and be careful!" Clemente exclaimed, taking the middle row. Solaire was on his right, while Oscar fanned out to the left. "These primitive creatures stand in our way! We will not falter here!" He roared, putting up his shield as he began his charge at the beast closest to him, his might Zweihander ready to come crashing down upon his foe.
"Hyyyah!!" Solaire exclaimed, summoning a blistering bolt of lightning, before tossing it with mighty strength. "Die beasts! Begone from the sight of my fellow friends! Make way, for the mighty trio of Astora! Hahahahaha!" The sun worshiping man exclaimed in glee, tossing his mighty spear of lightning.
"Your time upon this land art now over! Begone!" Oscar declared. "Now fall, fall for the glory of Astora!" He raised his holy sword skyward, its blade shining with the power to repel all things undead. Then he swung his blade backwards, threw his shield up before joining his fellow knight in the charge.
The gargoyles faltered at the blatant and open hull headed charge by the three armored humans that stood before them, yet they raised their weapons high into the ground to strike them down.
Clemente ran forward and stopped the first attack with his shield, his strength holding true. A bolt of lightning slammed into the beast a moment later, thrown from the sunlight knight. Oscar came rushing in, using his fellow knight who still held the gargoyle in place as a springboard to launch himself at his foe.
The gargoyle roared in agony as the knight of Astora stabbed his holy sword hilt deep into its chest, its power of purification causing great damage to the beast. Having learned from his previous mistakes, Oscar quickly leap away, pulling his weapon with him as he and Clemente fled.
The beast hit the ground, roaring in agony as it prepared to torch the knights before it. It opened its mouth to unleash its fury, only for a spear of lightning to fly down its throat, exploding within it.
The beast fell dead a moment later.
"The beast falls to our might, and the next is soon to follow! Come my friends, let us end this foul beast post haste! Hahahahah!" Solaire exclaimed, laughing boisterously as he raised another lightning spear.
The second gargoyle suddenly seemed as if it finally realized that its chances of victory weren't slim, but had been nil from the very beginning. The beast stepped back as the three knights rushed at it from all sides, promising to swiftly and painfully take it down.
It blasted out a ball of fire at the warrior closest to it, but the attack was blocked entirely. With its guard down, the other knights dove in swiftly.
The battle was over, the gargoyle falling dead, its corpse shaking the roof of the undead church.
For as quickly as the battle had begun, its end was just as swift.
The trio of Knights had again proved victorious.
"Good work lads! I dare say, I'm proud of our accomplishments here today!" Solaire laughed happily as he approached the two warriors, tossing his arms around their shoulders. "I had my doubts about our future here in Lordran, but my worries have been appeased by that display of camaraderie." The sunlight warrior explained seriously, nodding to himself.
Oscar's eyes widened behind his helmet, before a soft chortle escaped his lips. "Good sir, I doth believe you art right. This battle has rekindled my faith in my efforts in this accursed world." Oscar hummed, casting his eyes from his fellow knight and to his half dragon companion.
Clemente's eyes had been drawn skyward, gazing upon the very top of the church.
There atop the tower, was the first bell of awakening.
Finally, a smile seemed to grace the hidden face of the halfbreed as he glanced to his companions. "Sir Solaire, I must thank thee." The man spoke genuinely.
Solaire cast upon him a curious expression. "Oh? Whatever for?" He asked in that ever bright tone.
"For bringing us together in jolly cooperation, as thee would say." The dragon man hummed, voice tinged with mirth. "Thou art a wise man."
"Oh nonsense, I am no wiser than any of you." The sunlight warrior brushed off the praise, yet his cheeks were glowing just like the sun he worshipped so reverently. "But the compliment is gladly accepted! Hahaha!" He laughed, patting the dragon on the back. He took off, making his way towards the bell tower. "Now come, our destiny awaits!" He declared loudly, voice echoing across all of the Undead Burg as he charged forth into his so called destiny.
"That man is far too encourage-able, although, thee's humanity burns brightly. He art right! We must not stop hither, our journey has only just begun." Oscar nodded firmly, taking up his weapons as he moved to give chase to the still laughing warrior of sunlight.
Clemente watched them go, the duo making their way into the tower. He knew the goal that drove Oscar forward, to complete the legend passed down through his family generations and ring the twin bells of awakening. Solaire must have known doing so would bring him closer to his own goal, hence why he had run into the tower so quickly.
But he himself was not there for the bell.
He was here to meet a certain man, a man he was informed was often seen frequenting the tower as a place of rest.
Oswald of Carim.
So, while his companions charged forward and up the tower, he sought out the mysterious man said to live within its walls.
And he had no need to look for long…
"Ahhh… Thou art a new face. Your companions art not even aware of my presence, yet you come here seeking me… Fascinating!" After having stepped foot into the tower, Clemente glanced to a pillar off to the side, a black garbed man standing with such a presence he would have been undetectable if the halfbreed had not been seeking him out.
And it seemed as if the man knew he was being sought after.
"Good sir… I come here today seeking answers. I have been told you art one with knowledge?" Clemente said as he approached the man.
Oswald hummed in interest. "Knowledge? That is something I have in spades. Tell me, what is it you seek? Power? Strength? …Knowledge?" He asked curiously, the last word almost teased.
However, instead of answering right away, the Knight of Astora reached into his pouch as he procured a large beautiful painting. He held the parchment up to the eyes of the mysterious man, displaying the figure of a mystical beautiful woman. "Please, if you have information of this wondrous maiden, I beg thee tell me."
Oswald leaned forward as he observed the parchment curiously, his eyes trailing every curve of the painted woman. "Hmm…" He hummed lowly, reaching up to grasp his chin in thought.
Clemente felt his hope dwindle at the man's lackluster tone, feeling as if he had run into another wall.
And yet…
"Well, it has been many years, however this maiden does seem… familiar to me." Oswald said decidedly.
Clemente's eyes widened.
"I feel as if I have heard stories relating to her within the capital city above us, Anor Londo." He nodded assuredly.
Clemente's eyes widened, hope swelling within his chest. However, that hope was met with a powerful sense of urgency. "Tell me! How would one reach this great city?" He asked urgently.
Oswald grinned behind his mask. "That is a task few nowadays have achieved… But I know nothing I may say will persuade you." The mysterious man stated. "However, to reach the city, you must venture through Sen's Fortress. There is no other way I know of. However, to open the gates, you must ring the bells of awakening." He informed.
The halfbreed stood back, stepping outside of the tower to gaze upon the might goliath of a wall built upon the tallest mountain. Behind that wall was the great city of Anor Londo…
And it was surely where he needed to go next.
Just then a bell rung out, the sound echoing out across the lands. His gaze snapped skyward as he saw his companions ring the first of two bells of awakening.
Although he had initially suspected that all of their individual paths would lead them away from each other, he again found himself glued to their sides. For differing reasons, he would continue to assist in the ringing of the bells of awakening.
After that…
Well…
He would decide when that time finally came.
"Clemente! We have done it! We have rung the first bell!" Oscar declared from atop the bell tower, waving down to his friend.
"Hahahah! This is but a trivial matter for the group of us! I feel as if I am standing atop the world in this moment, so close to the sun I can almost feel it." Solaire exclaimed, holding his hand out to the sun in the skies above.
Although it was so far away, it felt incredible close in that very moment.
Then Solaire glanced down to the half dragon, grinning behind his helmet. "Good sir, we must not stop here! This is but one of two bells! So, my fellow Astorian's, we must venture now unto the depths of this land and find its twin bell! Adventure awaits for us all, Huzzah!" Seemingly filled with a newfound burst of energy, the sunlight warrior rushed down the ladder back to the lower level, eager to continue on his journey.
Clemente couldn't help the amused look that momentarily crossed his face. He glanced back to Oswald, one more question on his mind. But when he lay his eyes upon where the man once stood, no one could be found there…
"Clemente, where do you suppose we cast our search next?" Oscar, having finally returned from the top of the tower, asked as he approached the dragon knight.
"Perhaps this will be a wise time to return to the Firelink Shrine? That man from before may hold the information we seek." The man in question hummed, turning to cast his gaze upon the ruined burg below.
The trek to the shrine wouldn't take long, so long as they weren't stopped along the way.
"Indeed! That is a mighty fine idea indeed! I shall take charge, follow after me, friends!" Solaire exclaimed as he strutted forward, ready for whatever the world could toss his way.
Oscar shook his head in amusement…
Clemente grinned, the sentiment shared…
Chapter
5
End