BY GWYNEVERE'S HEAVENLY CLEAVAGE, I HAVE COMPLETE THE NEXT CHAPTER!
Young readers, I have finally returned! I took a bit of extra time to mull over a few idea's before i settled on things for this one, but Its finally ready!
This is one of the bigger chapters thats going to reveal a great deal of things to you all, so I hope you guys enjoy and tell me what you think.
Warning: Be prepared for legendary reveals and possible spider cleavage. (As if you guys aren't hoping for it) You have been warned.
"There is an old saying in my family. Thou who art Undead, art chosen. In thine exodus from the Undead Asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of Ancient Lords. When thou ringeth the Bell of Awakening, the fate of the Undead thou shalt know." A certain knight explained solemnly. "Didn't have a damn clue what it meant, but I was determined to seek something out for myself. I traveled far through the land and made my way here. To the great "Land of Ancient Lords", Lordran. Surprise, surprise, I managed to come upon an Asylum high upon a mountain. So I made my way there."
"You said you knew not want you searched for. To what end did you seek the Asylum then?"
"It is difficult to explain." Oscar replied.
"Try."
There was a certain heat in the witch's eye's that told the knight that she would not take no for an answer. She wanted no stone unturned and no detail unspoken about whatever lead him to her domain.
"I didn't have anything else to fight for." He replied plainly.
"What does that mean?"
"What more do you need to know? Everyone I knew is dead and gone, my memories of my home has nearly faded completely and I had nothing left to pursue beyond my family's old saying. That was all that was left." Oscar explained with a bit of heat in his tone. "When you feel your mind slipping and becoming hollow, seeking out the "Fate of the Undead" in some Asylum suddenly doesn't seem like the worst option."
"And that's where you met this Prophet then?"
"Yes. I spotted him sleeping deeply within a cell and freed him from it. Not long after was I set upon by a large demon and was crushed beneath the weight of the weapon that it carried. I'm not sure what exactly happen to me after the attack, but I found myself inside some room. I was laying in rubble and there was a hole above me so I can only assume that it must have smashed me straight through the stone of building. My chest felt caved in and my vision was blurring. I was dying. I'd used my remaining time searching and fighting for nothing, so it was fitting that I would die alone for nothing in some hollow infested Asylum."
There was moment of pause as Oscar sighed to himself as he remembers the events of what felt like another lifetime ago.
"But then there was this loud boom. A massive ball of steel crashed through the wall and in he walks through. In my final moments, I asked that he hear me out. As foolishly as it may sound, I thought that though I may have failed maybe someone else could keep the torch lit. So I told him of my family's saying, gave him my Estus Flask and was ready to great my end…. then he put the flask into my mouth and forced the Estus all down my throat."
"I see. And how did fighting for nothing turn into you being sent here?" Quelaag questioned.
"Well, afterwards, I traveled alongside him. We faced demons, Black Knights and even had a run in with a drake. Soon enough, our number grew from just him and myself too two others. It felt like I found a purpose." Oscar said, reminiscing on his own emotions and feelings of things. "Then he told me the truth. About you, the First Flame, your sister, the Witch, the demons, everything. Some time after that, he retrieved something called the Rite of Kindling. With it, myself and two others were granted the capabilities of empowering Bonfires and strengthening their keepers."
"So that's how you did it then." Quelaag said, the conversation steering towards what she was truly interested in. "And where is this Rite located now?"
"Far from here." Oscar said plainly. "The Prophet has a knack for placing himself right center of impossible situations and has somehow wound up being named champion to Velka. He followed her to help with something going on inside Anor Londo and took the Rite with him."
At this, Quelaag expression froze for a few moments before spreading into a pleased smile.
"Heh, how low the mighty have fallen." Quelaag said, chuckling openly at what she'd been told. "For her to select a human as her chosen, their desperation must have truly peaked. A pity I could not be there to see it myself."
Hearing this, Oscar turned a grim look upon her.
"Do you have any room to speak? Especially with that body of yours and what you've done for your own goals?" The knight said with a small bit of displeasure in his tone.
Of course, the witch did not take kindly to the knights' words, but his ability to heal her sister took priority over her anger. So after taking a brief moment to real herself in, she spoke in a heated tone.
"You have quite the mouth on you, human." The witch said with a glare, not hiding her irritation in the slightest. "You'd do well to remember I could kill you at any time I wish."
"If dying was something I was afraid of, do you think I'd be here right now?" Oscar replied unhesitantly as he threw her glare right back at her. "Tell me, what was on your mind when you decided to send the world into hell? When you tried to twist the lord soul to suit your own needs and bring about creatures that bring about untold innocent deaths? But I'm sure it was all worth it to you in the end. Your family's all healed up now, right? All's well that ends well."
At this there was silence between the two of them, each glaring into the eyes of the other. Oscar's was born of misplaced blame for the state of the world. While the witches was born from the disrespect of his words.
The knight was the first to turn his gaze away and back towards the light of the bonfire.
"What does it matter. Don't know why I'm wasting my breath on gods. Not like it bothers any of you." Oscar said in a tired tone. "The only difference between you and the rest is that your physical appearance now matches your nature."
"…Why doth thou speak such cruel things?" a weak and dry voice said lowly amidst the two individuals.
Both Quelaag and Oscar turned their gaze to the side to see that Quelaan had opened her eye's and spoke in a pained voice. As if performing even the minor action of talking was considerably taxing upon her.
"….Tis a great pity…when one holds such malice in their hearts…" the sickly witch said weakly.
Though she was initially caught by surprise at hearing her sister speak, Quelaag was quick to regain herself and leaned in closer to her sibling to gently place a hand across her pale cheek.
"Shhh. Save your strength. Soon your pain will be no more." The witch said softly in a manner that stood in complete contrast to her previous anger. "Kirk will return soon. So rest now and wait till then."
"Oh my dear sister…do not mind me…it does not hurt terribly." Quelaan said reassuringly, though not convincing anyone in the room. "B…But this poor man…he-"
"Hush. You are going to worsen your health if you do not allow yourself to slumber. We have now made a great stride for you, but do not try to push yourself until you are fully restored."
Whatever Quelaan wanted to say against these words faded away along with her newfound reserves of strength.
"Quelaag…do be kind…" was all the sickly woman said before she relaxed her body and closed her eyes.
Watching her sister's shoulders rise and fall with each gentle breath she took, Quelaag ran her hand down her cheek before releasing a small breath of her own.
""Be kind." Barely able to lift a finger and she ask that I be kind." Quelaag said solemnly before she turned her attention back towards Oscar.
For a time, she simply stared at him. The swirling chaos behind her eye's boring through him.
"Should I feel remorse for what I've done?" the witch asked abruptly.
"What did you say?" Oscar questioned angrily.
"I asked if I should I feel any sort of remorse for slaughtering every insignificant human that comes within my grasp?"
"Have you no shame?!"
"Heh, a human speaking to me of shame? As if any of you would think twice if in my place." Quelaag mocked. "You filth kill each other for far less every day. At least this way you'd serve the purpose of keeping someone alive who actually deserves it."
"You're a murderous wench!"
"A title I bear with great pleasure. Not that it matters. You're only here to make yourself useful and help me heal my sister. Just as your Prophet intended." Quelaag said with a superior smile, fully enjoying the sight of the enraged knight. "All's well that ends well, right?"
At this point, one would be hard pressed to not notice the throbbing vein on Oscar forehead. But for Quelaag, seeing that she had thoroughly managed to get under the knight's skin, she could only smirk down at him in amusement.
Soon enough, Oscar had to resign himself to rage on in silence. He could not fight her unarmed and proceeding the conversation any further would only serve to enrage him more. Turning his eye back towards the crackling flames, he did his best to drown out her presence.
Felling quite pleased with herself, Quelaag absently began flexing her fingers with a smile as embers flaked free. Of course, she could not help but lord it over him that much further. To better make him suffer for the words he'd spoken earlier.
"Its too bad things are as they are. I imagine you would have made quite the servant once upon a time. A few lashes and a bit of time in a dungeon would have you speaking more respectfully."
"Not even in your wildest dreams, monster." Oscar said, determined to not give her the last word. The only response to be given was the maw of her lower half to growl and emit a small wave of heat.
Oscar did not so much as flinch at this display.
With that, silence fell between the two of them. Oscar understandably vexed and Quelaag finding her amusement of the situation faded.
After a time of nothing being said, the knight's eyes eventually wondered up towards the paler of the two siblings. Her flimsy and thin body a depressing sight for him to see.
Though he hesitated for a time, a question about her soon formed and escape his lip.
"Why did she do that to herself?" the knight asked lowly. "It should have been obvious how little difference it would have made in the end."
At this, Quelaag paused. Though there was still traces of anger in his tone, he did not seem to mean any offense with his words. So she decided to humor him by answering.
"She did not know when to stop giving. Especially to those of your kind." The witch responded plainly, giving Oscar a look that said if he knew what was good for him, he would be careful what he said next.
"What's that supposed to mean? A few acts of kindness brought about by regret?" Oscar replied.
This comment caused Quelaag's brow to furrow slightly.
"Regret? Try sacrifice after sacrifice, all for the sake of selfish and ungrateful creatures such as yourself." The Witch exclaimed in defense of her sibling. "Your petty wars talked into peace; filthy slums reformed into beacons of hope. She who loved you humans and cared for your ills, spent her life aiding you and placing herself in harm's way for your sake. At what does she receive in return? Left to be discarded and reduced to near death. I'd even wager you don't even know who she is, do you? Only the results of a single mistake."
At this, Oscar remained silent. The fact was she was right. He barely had any idea who the woman or Quelaag were, only what they had done regarding the demons and their current state thereafter. This in no way meant he was willing to ignore what they had done or grant them any sort of forgiveness, but what harm would there be in knowing more. If only in reverence to the kindness the sicker of the two was said to have shown.
"Your sister…sounds like she must have been a kind soul." Oscar responded, giving the sister the thanks she was due for her actions. "The world could do with more like her."
"As if I need someone as base as you to tell me of her worth." Quelaag responded haughtily.
Once more, the two fell to silence. It was obvious to both parties that this would be the closest they would come to a thinly veiled sense of understanding.
Though Oscar summarily decided to not let things end with that.
"What happened back then? Before the demons, before this nightmare. What made you all choose to do what you did with the Lord Soul?" the knight questioned, this time without a hint of sarcasm or disdain.
Of course, the witch had no reason to give an answer to this question. After all, it would not make the slightest bit of difference to tell him anything.
But even still, she spoke. For the second time telling herself that she was only humoring him and nothing more.
"It would be difficult for a human to understand."
"Try me."
"Fine then." The witch said as she searched for the words, ultimately finding she would have to dumb them down in terms a human could grasp. "If you can, imagine this place as a paradise. Imagine a land where knowledge, order and coexistence reigned. Those of your kind thrived under the protection of mine. All flourished. Now imagine a moment where things began to…change."
"The First Flame began to fade…"
"Yes. It was small, almost unnoticeable, in the beginning. But as time went on we all felt like…we were less of ourselves. Growing weaker with each day." The witch explained. "My family knew not of what was happening until my mother spoke of everything to us. The power that dwelled within all of my kind was fading. She spoke that once it was gone, we would be powerless. Meanwhile, you humans grew in strength with every passing day. Not in size or raw power, but there was shift inside you all. And just as we realized our own weakness, we knew it would not be long until you all took notice of your own growing power."
"So what? Did it frighten you all so much to see us grow that you would resort to such madness? Could you truly not imagine a time were perhaps you were the ones that needed to be protected?"
"You speak as if things would transpire like that of a fairy tales. You humans are not created of light, reason and peace such as we were, you are all formed of dark, greed and avarice. You would not seek a path of harmony with us, but one of slavery and servitude. And who would be able to stop you once we had grown weak?" Quelaag countered. "You could not begin to understand what it is like to awaken each day and feel like you've lost a piece of yourself. Knowing that any moment, all that you love could be put to the sword or worse, collared like a beast."
"Are you completely blind or just insane? You have cosigned us to that very same fate that you feared for yourself. The only difference is that we are reduced to nothing but husk, instead of just weakened. What do you think you're damned curse has done to all of us?" Oscar said accusingly.
"Our curse?" Quelaag questioned as she looked upon the human curiously before a look of understanding dawned upon her. "Hm…I see. So the affliction that marks you was made as a solution. But to be able to mark all of you….beyond my mother and Nito, only Gwyn would hold the power to form such a powerful and widespread curse. Desperation must have truly consumed him."
"Are you kidding me? Do you have no idea what has befallen the world? After everything that has happened?"
"I know of the mark and that it seeps with human dark and power. As well as a great change within myself long ago, but nothing more. If you know more, than enlighten me."
"Hmph. Well you will be happy to know that you all got your wish in the end. Gwyn offered himself to the first flame as living kindling and kick started a neverending curse that can mark anyone at any time." Oscar exclaimed with newfound displeasure. "Now you won't have to concern yourself with who's stronger than who because now the First Flame has been altered into a state that its crumbling in on itself. If it is not satiated with the souls of the old gods, the abyss is going to overcome and consume us all."
"Hm. Using the First for such a thing could have changed us all into who knows what. Madness must have been all Gwyn had left for him to take such a risk." Quelaag said with a small sigh escaping her lips.
"I'm glad you're so calm about this. What's more, the only one's fighting to actually do something about it are four humans. Not you gods, who fled like cowards and hid away. Humans." Oscar said, emphasizing just how useless the gods were when the chips are down. "It only makes it that much more tragic to know that if you had put aside your fear and trusted that we were not all compelled by evil and sinful ambitions, then maybe things wouldn't be so dire right now. If anything, you could have at least tried to find an alternative to simply staying here and killing people. Help find a solution, aid people in surviving these dark times, anything!"
At this, Quelaag merely gave roll of her eye's. At this point, Oscars words were nothing more than a minor annoyance. The past was no longer something she dwelled on. Whether they would have be right or wrong didn't matter to her now. The same could be said towards helping any humans with their plight. After all, would any of them deign to help her or her sister?
She could only just barely be bothered drudge up a minor comment to dismiss the topic.
"Oh, silly me. I'll just take this body to the nearest township and offer my hand in friendship." Quelaag said in a dull tone. "But what did you mean when you say you're going to do something about it? Your kind lack the power too sway anything, much less even think of approaching the First Flame. You're just as helpless as the rest of us, if not more so."
"Heh, you're playing by the old rules, witch. Things have changed." Oscar said with no small hint of smugness. "The prophet sent me to this place to find a source of power to help him shift the tide."
"There is no such power here." Quelaag replied curtly.
"That you know of." Oscar replied just as swiftly. "But don't worry. Once I finish here, I will be swift in claiming it and the first place I'm setting my sights on is your precious golden city."
At this, Quelaag stared down at the human and slowly shaking her head.
"You came all the way here believing something as ridiculous as that?" Quelaag said with a sigh. "If your Prophet was trying to kill you, I would think there are far easier ways to see the task done."
"Believe what you will." Oscar replied. "Once your sibling is healed, our business will be finished and I will move along the path of ending this madness."
If Quelaag or Oscar had anything further to say on the matter, they would never get the chance as a sort of distant ringing reached both of their minds. Each one knew what the sound and the feeling it brought meant.
Either someone was currently invading them or…
"Finally. He's returned."
Just as the words left her lips, a man wearing armor that was spiked and thorned at every angle made his way through the entrance of the chamber. Stopping dead in his track the minute his eye's landed upon Oscar's unfamiliar visage.
With barely a moment's hesitation, the thorned knight moved towards his unarmed prey. His intentions written clearly as day by the way his hand tightened around his sword.
"That's enough, Kirk." Quelaag said calmly, taking just the smallest bit of amusement at the sight of Oscar's visible apprehension. "This one comes bringing good tidings. He is one of three that can heal Quelaan's body. There is little point in wasting time explaining further. Give him all the humanity you've collected."
Once again with barely a moment's hesitation, the knight know as Kirk approach Oscar and held his hand towards him.
But Oscar was quick to stand to his feet and furrow his brow at the newcomer.
"What is this? You did not speak that you were allied with…him." Oscar said vehemently. Kirk, the murderous knight of thorns, was widely known figure among knights of Astora. Many a township and village had fallen to his blade, with only a few lucky survivors remaining to pass along the tale.
"What difference does it make?" Quelaag replied somewhat darkly. "Per your prophet, you were already aware of what I have done personally and came here regardless, so there is no reason to hesitate now. Just do as you intended and think no further beyond it."
The fact that her sister's restoration was so close brought out a certainty within Quelaag. It was the certainty that she would not allow the knight to back out now, no matter how he felt. If would not heal Quelaan willing, she was more than prepared to torture and torment him into action.
Fortunately though, after a full minute of silence, Oscar released a heavy sigh and clasp Kirks hand in his own. Within seconds, a rush of strength surged through his arm and deep within his body.
The number of humanity he was given was no small amount. Oscar felt a total of twenty five swimming within his core. Twenty five souls brought down and harvested by this murderer and for what? To bring temporary relief to the Firekeeper? Madness. Yet another cruel tragedy brought about by the gods hubris.
But now was not the time to think of such things. If nothing else, he would take solace that this was meant to aid the good one among them and not the murderer's themselves.
As the knight turned towards and approached the bonfire once more, Quelaag turned her eye's back to her sister with pleading eye's.
Pouring each and every one of the ill-gotten humanity sprites into the bonfire, the siblings body was once more restored further and further until the sickened form she held was but a distant memory. Within but a few moments, she had taken on quite the drastic change in appearance.
Aside from her flowing pure white hair and ashen colored arachnid body, she was almost perfectly identical in appearance to Quelaag.
Slowly, she opened both her eye's. Each one now filled with life and, surprisingly enough, holding a beautiful green color. The softness in them was a stark contrast to Quelaag's own.
"Quelaag?"
"Yes. Yes, its me." Quelaag said with a smile as she inspected her sisters' body, finding little to know sign of the blight upon her anymore. "Sister, how do you feel?"
"I feel…better. No more pain." Quelaan said as her spider half freed its limbs and stood upright for the first time in a long time. Mimicking her actions, Quelaag stood up alongside her. "But how? The Blight…."
It was then that the now healthy spider turned her attention squarely on Oscar.
"You. The angry human. Was it by your hand?" Quelaan questioned brightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
In his defense, amid the situation of being near two beautiful woman with spider bodies alongside one of the most dangerous criminals known to man, it could be forgiven that Oscar was completely caught off guard by the witches sudden positivity as well as her referral to him as the "Angry human".
"Yes. I provided the means, but you're sister and you're…*ahem* knight…provided the resources." Oscar exclaimed politely.
At this, the man in question proceeded past Oscar and walked directly before the fair lady. Then, without saying a word, he lowered his head and kneeled before her.
"Kirk. It is good to see that you are well. Although I suppose that is quite humorous to come from me." Quelaan said pleasantly.
"…" Kirk said in a heartfelt tone.
"There is no need to dwell on ceremony. I do not know how it was managed, but I am happy to see that you and Quelaag made a friend of someone who could aid me. I will admit, I was quite concerned for you both." Quelaan replied with a small bow of her head.
It was at that moment that both Oscar and Quelaag locked eye's with one another, each one delivering a look to convey that "Friends" was the furthest thing they were from one another.
But the red spidered witched wasted little time on focusing on the knight and returned her gaze back to her sister.
"You? Were concerned for us?" Quelaag said with a small smirk and a soft look in her eye's. "Of course that's one of the first things you'd say. Barely able to move a few moments ago and the first words you speak is how worried you were for us."
"Well, its true." Quelaan said with a pout. "I know that looking after me after what I'd done must have been a great burden on both you and Kirk. And for that, I am-"
Before she could finish her sentence, Quelaag unceremoniously wrapped her arms around her sister and pulled her close.
It should be known that chaos witch was quite prideful. When her sister returned to health and stood before her as normal as could be, she had resolved herself to maintaining her composure and simply be happy that she was well again.
But reality is often different than one imagines it to be.
When Quelaan spoke so casually about how worried she was for her and Kirk and prepared to apologize, she quite simply could not contain the emotions building within her chest.
"Don't-. Don't you even think of apologizing to me." Quelaag said as she fought back against a defiant quivering lip. "I've been looking after you for years, watching you writhe constant pain and now you stand before me apologizing and saying how much you were worried? I can't believe you…"
"Sister…"
"I said there was nothing we could do for them and you went and-. How could you have been so stupid? What if you had died, huh? Have you ever considered how much it would hurt to have you taken from me, you air headed idiot?"
As much as she tried to hold them back she could not halt the beads of water started falling one after the other down her cheeks. Muffled sobs wracked her chest as she silently prayed that this was truly happening and not just a dream that would be taken from her at any moment now.
So she held her tightly, only relenting and relaxing once she felt her sister hands on her back and her body lean into hers.
"Please sister, do not cry." Quelaan said softly as she embraced her kin. She did not shed tears alongside her, but her eye's showed that she understood fully the emotions swelling within.
Watching on from the side, despite his minds protest as to what she'd done, Oscar could not help but feel sorry for the witch and what she must have gone through for her sister. The pitch of her voice, the way she desperately held her sisters' body, it was all an incredible display of vulnerability and weakness that moved even him.
For this moment alone, he pitied her.
After a few minutes of being consoled by her sister, Quelaag released her hold upon Quelaan and wiped her cheek. Turning her eyes upon the one person who did not belong here, he jaw clench firmly. Then, in a voice that sounded far more genuine then before, she spoke to him.
"Thank you for this, hum-….Oscar. Truly, thank you." Quelaag said, her voice laced with nothing but gratitude and appreciation.
"Oh, so your name is Oscar?" Quelaan said happily beside her as she leaned her body forward and extended a friendly hand to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I find it's always nice to make new companions."
It was almost like looking at two mirror opposites when comparing the two sisters. One bubbly, friendly and pale. While the other was stern, prideful and lava red.
"Yes, uh, your welcome." Oscar said as he took hold of her hand and gave it a polite shake. "Glad I was able to help you back to your feet."
"Indeed." Quelaan said with a nod of her head. "Now I must ask, how is it that you are acquainted with my sister? She was never very fond of most humans. *Gasp* Could it be? A suitor?"
At this, both Oscar and Quelaag's face scrunched up in abhorrence.
"Sister, does it look like I'm looking for any sort of suitor at the moment?" Quelaag said as she gestured towards her lower spider body. "Besides, even if I were, I'd at least like to find one better than him."
"And I'd at least like to find a woman who knows what a shirt is." Oscar retorted swiftly.
The instant the words left his left did Quelaag sharply turn her gaze upon him and narrow her eye's dangerously. Though the knight merely returned the heated expression with calm indifference.
Be it because she was grateful he healed other sister or the simple fact that she did not want her to see her savior torn limb from limb, Quelaag swallowed her anger while it was a simple fire seed and blew a bit steamy smoke from her nostrils.
"And what's does that matter whether I wear anything or not? I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of."
"And not much to see either." Oscar said with a smirk, feeling quite proud of that particular comeback.
"You little-…. If you must know, fabric burns at my touch! I can't wear clothes." Quelaag said as continued to glare at the knight. "And I'll warn you now, don't start getting smart with me, Oscar."
"Oh my, she does like you. My sister never gives warnings." Quelaan commented as she placed a hand to her cheek. "You're doing the right thing by holding your ground like that. She prefers the abrasive types and I can assure you that once you get past her rough outside, she's as gentle as a kitten. Right, Kirk?"
"…." Kirk said sternly.
"Now there is no need for such things. He came here to help." Quelaan said in a worried tone, much to Oscar's confusion.
"…." Kirk replied, holding strong to his position.
"No. Leave him be. He has healed her and as irksome as he currently is, I see little point in spoiling the moment." Quelaag said firmly.
Having no idea why the two were responding to nothing, Oscar decided that there was little point in questioning it. It was time for him to leave.
"Well, my task here is now done and I have elsewhere to be." Oscar announced as he turned to leave. "Farewell."
As he calmly made his way out of the chamber, the entirety of the room's remaining occupants was left staring at his back. Quelaag was the first to regain herself and speak.
"Quelaan, why don't you go and see brother. I'm sure that being able to speak with you once again will bring him a great deal of joy." The witch said calmly. "Kirk, stick with her and keep her well away from danger."
"Yes, of course. And what are you going to do?" Quelaan asked curiously.
"I simply wish to have a chat with Oscar. Nothing to worry about." Quelaag said as she followed the knight's trail out of the chamber.
Just as she stepped out of the room, Quelaan spoke one last comment to her sibling.
"Don't play hard to get for too long or you're going to let him get away." The pale witch advised happily, causing Quelaag to visibly roll her eye's as she continued forward.
Quelaag's Domain- Open Chamber
Retrieving his discarded sword, shield and helmet from the ground of the massive chamber, Oscar took great solace in feeling the familiar weight on his body. Almost like he was reuniting with old friends. Just as he finished collecting himself and prepared to leave, a voice stopped him.
"Hold it." Quelaag commanded, causing the knight to turn around to face her. "That power you used, the Rite of Kindling. You said it merely strengthens a bonfire and, by extension, its keeper?"
"Yes, what of it?"
"So the blight is not cleansed from her body, she has just been made stronger. That means there is a chance it could resurface." Quelaag said, spelling her thoughts out plainly. "Tell me where you are going."
"Why?"
"To find you, you idiot. If something happens to her, I need to know where the means to heal her will be." The witch explained gruffly.
Hearing this, Oscar stood silent before the great witch for a few moments, before deciding to fearlessly approach her further.
"One question first." Oscar said eerily before her. "Does your sister know all that you have done? About the lives taken for her sake?"
Quelaag's response came with an air of calm acceptance.
"She is not blind and likely suspects." Quelaag responded. "I see no reason to divulge into details and you will speak nothing of it if you wish to remain alive.
"You spoke of prosperity and peace with my kind before. Did killing so many for the sake of one truly mean nothing to you? Does the blood of the innocent weigh not upon your conscious?" Oscar question, this time not in an accusing manner.
"This again? I cannot speak it any plainer than I already have. Things are not as they once were. She is one the few things I have left. If it is for her sake, then I will accept my role as a bloodied slayer. Whether I wish it to be different or not is inconsequential. That is just simple reality" Quelaag responded coldly.
As her words reached his ears, a wave of dissatisfaction filled Oscar's body. The way she simply accepted the way things were and simply gave in made him angry for a reason he could not quite place.
"Tch. Like all the rest of the gods, you are so easy to just give in to the tragedies and bloodshed. Its pathetic." The knight said with finality as he turned his back to the witch. "You'll find me at the core of the great tree on the other end of Blighttown. Once I am done, perhaps I will make my way back here and show you what comes of not just sitting back and accepting things. And if you want to do anything for your sisters' sake, if you truly care about her as much as you claim, do not kill any more people. If you could accomplish that, then perhaps you wouldn't be so bad."
At this last comment, Quelaag was caught off guard and could only watch in silence as the knight walked out of sight. Unless she was losing her senses, those last few words were dangerously close to being a compliment.
From the time that he left all the way to the time he returned, it would incessantly plague her mind that she had let him leave with the last word.
When she saw him again, she would be sure to correct this mistake.
The Great Hollow- Tree entrance
Pacing back and forth in front of an enormous tree, a lone woman was absolutely beside herself with worry.
"Okay, this is fine. Lets just keep a calm head and not panic. Oscar's not really going to tell my lord what I've done. He was just bluffing….but what if he wasn't. He's going to ruin my first impression. How am I going to prove my loyalty with him bad mouthing me?!" Yuria thought to herself, clearly not keeping calm like she said she should. "Maybe I should just kill him. We're in the middle of a cesspool filled with cannibals, so no one will know. I can just move on to finding Solaire. Siegmeyer's not worth the effort after all. No-no-no-no, what am I thinking?! That would mean lying to the great one! Yuria, you complete idiot! Are you TRYING to bring shame to your position as his servant?!"
Feeling frustration towards herself for even approaching such thoughts, the former Darkwraith gripped her cursed knife that much tighter and frantically looked around for something to impale.
But as she glanced across the area, she saw a familiar armored knight heading her way.
Quickly collecting herself and straightening out her wardrobe, she greeted the individual warmly.
"I see you made it here just fine. I knew that this place and its obstacles would not be enough to hold you back. Though I did admittedly clear a fair path for you, there really is no need to thank me." She said with a smile, only for Oscar to walk past her without a word and ascended the tree's roots. Being ignored was not something she was especially happy about, but nonetheless, Yuria followed him.
Making their way up the tree's large roots, the two came upon a room with a lone corpse holding what seemed to be a shield held by wooden planks, which of course was promptly disregarded.
Sweeping his gaze across the room, Oscar was hard pressed to figure out which was the illusionary wall. Seeing his confused demeanor, Yuria casually walked forward and stabbed into the place she knew the fake to be, causing it to fade from sight and reveal yet another hidden room holding a chest.
Walking directly past this discovery as well, Oscar struck the wall behind it to reveal a far-reaching tunnel of which he promptly moved to proceed through. Towards the end, the tunnel opened and revealed a labyrinth of roots and branches as well as a very steep drop downward drop.
Before he could proceed any further, Yuria stepped forward to intercept the knight.
"Now hold on a moment, Oscar. The path forward is fraught with many dangers before we reach the bottom. This time I must insist that you follow my lead so that I may guide you down safely." Yuria said as she locked eyes with her traveling companion.
"Fine. Lead on." Oscar replied dryly.
"This is no time to argue about-…Oh…really? Just like that? I was expecting a bit more bark. Are you feeling alright? Quelaag didn't put a parasite in your head, did she? If so, I know exactly how to cure you, but in return you must never tell my lord that I lead you to the old witches lair.
"Parasi-? Look, I don't even want to try to understand what you're talking about and I don't care about telling the Prophet anything about what happened. I just need time to think without adding any more nonsense to my head. So if you're going to lead the way, then do so."
"Oh, thank goodness." Yuria said as she visibly sighed with relief. "Then you need not say anymore. Follow me."
With that, Yuria turned on her heel and guided the knight along the proper and safest path downward. Of course, she had a very intimate understanding of the lay of the area and was more than capable of explaining which root they had to jump from.
True, they could have just walked, but she saw no reason to take the long way down. And since he did not know any better, Oscar simply followed her leaps downward thinking this was the only way. With each root they leapt downward too, Yuria made silent notes to return later and retrieve the hidden treasure she knew was within this place.
Eventually they made their way too what seemed to be an ending of some sort where three large frog-like creatures waited just down below. Yuria held her hand up to halt the knight at her back, before turning to him.
"We are nearing the bottom. Beyond this point, there are two minor obstacles. The first will be those creatures below. They're known basilisks. Each one is easy enough to kill, just don't stay in the fog they blow or you'll be cursed and turned into stone."
"Turned to stone? What?" Oscar replied confusingly.
"Don't think about it too much. Trust me, the real danger is what comes after we get out of this tree. But one step at a time." Yuria explained. "The second thing is a group of mushroom creatures. I cannot stress this enough; we should only engage them if we must. They are far stronger than they appear and can turn our bodies to paste with a single punch. And when I say "our bodies", I mostly mean yours."
No longer having any patience left, Oscar jumped down ahead of her. Much to Yuria's surprise.
Touching down upon the floor, and grateful for have solid footing beneath him, Oscar wasted not a single moment in hesitation before charging towards the three reptiles that held startlingly large and bulbous eyes atop on their head.
Plunging his sword directly through the head of the first, he fluidly pulled the blade free and raised his shield just as another jumped into the air towards him. Using its momentum against it, he threw the second beast over his shield before immediately pouncing toward the third.
It puffed its throat to an impossible degree, no doubt intent of breathing its cursed fumes upon him. Unfortunately, before it could fully be ready, Oscar easily cut through its exposed throat, sending its fumes releasing prematurely and making the creature spasm across the floor.
Without missing a single step, he turned on a heel and caught the pouncing remaining creature against his shield once again. Using his own superior strength, the knight redirected the beast body to his side, then plunged his blade though the side of its body and pierced directly into its heart.
Not even sparing a second glance at the remaining beast still spasming along the ground, Oscar swept his gaze around the room to find a way further down.
"Well! Someone decided to put their game face on." Yuria said with a smile as she made her way down. She was going to leap down right after him, but after seeing him completely decimate the opposition, she decided to simply sit back and let him take care of it. The results of which were very pleasing to her eye's, especially the sight of the basilisk writhing upon the ground probably wishing for death. "I'm happy to see that you're so motivated but try not get ahead of yourself, okay? Take it slow."
Ignoring her words completely, spotted a large root that lead downward and wasted little time following it with Yuria at his back. Soon enough, the two reached what appeared to be the final level of the tree.
Looking around, the first things their eye's fell upon was an exit that lead to some sort of sandy white surface as well as the sight of what appeared to be a group of miniature walking fungi. Each one standing about the size of a human child. Even keeping in mind Yuria's warning from before, Oscar could not help but wonder how something so small and infantile could possibly bring harm to him.
As if to complement the thought, the mushroom kids turned their gaze towards to the two newcomers for a moment, before running towards him in a small mob….and then immediately face-planting upon the earth at their feet in a clumsy and comedic fashion. Each one seemingly tumbling and falling over the each other in a childish manner.
"Don't touch them and don't go near them." Yuria said with concern in her tone.
"What are you so afraid of? They're half our size and they can barely stand." Oscar said just as Yuria's eye's widened as something rounded a corner of the exit.
As if the universe took his words as a challenge, a Mushroom person of identical shape to the other walked directly into view. The big difference between them being that this one was a behemoth the size of a full grown a bear.
From the sight of the bloodstained hands and scared body, Oscar assumed that this was the creature Yuria was so worried about.
Without speaking a word, the two intruders lowered their bodies and prepared themselves for a fight.
Only for the great creature to remain completely still and stare down upon them, making no move to approach nor attack them.
Even after a full minute of pure silence had passed, both Yuria and Oscar remained in place in a readied stance. Yet still no response by the beast was given, all the while he children were still shambling along the ground trying and failing to get back to their feet.
"Is it supposed to just stand there like that?" Oscar whispered lowly, confused as to the creature's inaction.
"What its supposed to be doing is trying to crush us into pulp, right now." Yuria whispered back just as confused as he was. By her lords account, these creatures should be incredibly hostile. After seeing that it wasn't making any move toward them, she slowly and careful took two steps toward the outer wall of the room and away from the mushroom children. The parent watched her closely but continued to make no move.
"Um…lets just try not agitate it and make our way towards the way out. I think Its only concerned with the smaller ones and we gain nothing by fighting it."
In tales of old, there would always be inclusions of epic battles and incredible strife. Of hero's beating the beast and triumphing over evil.
However, such tales would most certainly not include the parts of the adventure where the two warriors slowly and quite awkwardly edged toward the outskirts of a room to inch towards the doorway to freedom with a giant mushroom staring them down in complete silence the entire way.
Once they finally made their way to the door, they slowly back up through the exit with their eye's still one their foe. The mushroom parent, who seemed content with their leaving, stomped over to its children and begin gathering them together.
Whatever it was planning to do with them, Oscar and Yuria did not seem interested in finding out and decided to just walk away and take their leave.
As uneventful as the encounter might have been, the same could not be said for the land that they turned and found themselves in.
Though he knew of the mushroom creatures still behind him, Oscar could not help but pause and go wide eyed at the impossible expanse of white sand. Looking from his left then to his right, he saw that beyond the land they stood was a seemingly endless stretch of deep blue ocean alongside an open sky and countless tree's that had grown clear through the clouds above.
"What? But… we traveled beneath a tree. How is this possible?"
"One of the many wonders yet to be explored." Yuria said with genuine pleasure as she grabbed the knight by the arm to pull him further from the tree away from the danger. "I welcome you to Ash Lake! A impressive little pocket of impossibility. Not even my lord knows exactly how its existence comes to be."
"I don't understand any of this." Oscar said as he continued to sweep his gaze across the landscape.
"Heh, very unsurprising. Only my lord and I can come to terms with such a place." Yuria said smugly, taking great pleasure in knowing that this place was something only she and her master even knew existed.
"How can there be….any of this?" Oscar said as he walked forward. "Are we underground or are we in the sky?"
"My, my, leave it to you to think on such a simple level, you poor, poor man." Yuria said with the look of an adult having to properly educate a child. "No. My Lord believes it to possibly exist in some sort pocket dimension traveled about through the tree. But even that calls many things into question as this Primordial land should not exist alongside the First Flame. Truly fascinating."
"Wait, the great tree's, the endless expanse of nothing. Is this place…?" Oscar started as his mind pieced together just what he was looking at. "Are we standing in the grey? The void where dragons ruled? Does that mean we've traveled through time?!"
"Doubtful. It would be quite difficult to travel back to an era that predates time itself." Yuria mused. "If anything, I'm less interested in how we got here and more curious as to what possible now that we are here. Take those trees further beyond the sea for instance. If this one spit us out here, there where could the others lead if we reached them? The far flung future? The distant past? Or perhaps even completely different realities all together…heh, or maybe they're just normal tree's and I'm overthinking it. But regardless, the possibilities for this place or boundless.
Taking all this in and trying to come to terms with the land he now resided in, Oscar, for the thousandth time, felt as if he was going to lose his mind.
It was then that his eye's fell upon the sole landmark of the area. A second massive tree.
"The power the Prophet sent me here for is there, isn't it?" the knight asked seriously.
"I would think that should be obvious." Yuria mocked with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "Although, I will have to insist that you stay far away from the water. I'm not sure where that hydra's hiding, but I'm certain it's still about."
Oscar's eye's widened at the mention of the word "hydra" being spoken so casually. As if a multi-headed sea beast only spoken of in fairy tales was nothing to get worked up about. But soon enough, he could do not but release slow sigh as he fixed his gaze on the path ahead, directly upon the great tree in the distance.
Striding forward with a purpose, he steeled his will for whatever was to come next. He didn't need to look back to know that Yuria was following close behind him.
They walked with one another for a few minutes as Yuria took in the sight of the knights tensed demeanor. With a smile on her face, she allowed a simple question to escape her lips.
"Aren't you going to ask me?" Yuria questioned coyly.
"Ask what?" Oscar replied with as much calm as he could muster.
"Heh, there's no need to play dumb. Ask me what's waiting for you in the tree. I know my lord departed before explaining, so it must be eating you up inside."
Her voice was laced with velvet smugness that frankly grated against Oscar's nerve.
"I'll see when I get there. Why spoil the surprise?" Oscar said gruffly as he made his way across the sandy earth.
Picking up her pace with a smirk on her lips, Yuria walked in front of Oscar with her hands behind her back and turned to face him, playfully walking backwards to match his unhalting footsteps.
"Oh, but you do have questions about other things, don't you? Come on~, just ask."
"What the hell do you care? Why are you so keen to reveal things to me?" Oscar questioned with a bit of heat in his voice.
"Heh, heh, what a very odd question. Weren't you and the others the one's that were so keen on "Knowing the truth"?" Yuria said with a sense of satisfaction in her voice. "As to why I want to inform you of things, I simply like seeing you squirm beneath it all. Especially since you don't even know any of the truly juicy parts. So go on. Ask me whatever you wish and I shall elucidate."
He stared her down while continuing to move forward. Her eye's boring hungrily into him, each second that passed making her all the more eager to hear his reply. For she knew without a doubt that he would not be able to resist the offer presented to him.
Her patience was rewarded as eventually Oscar gave in to his curiosity. Only this time, he knew better than to bite off more than he could chew all at once. His thinking was to try to understand the little details first, then the rest should no doubt be easier to come to terms with.
"What does the Prophet want? In the end of all this, I mean. And don't even think of saying he wants to rule anything because that's not him." The knight asked.
"An interesting start." Yuria responded as she shifted to walking directly at Oscar's side instead of in front of him, more than happy to speak more of the Prophet. "Truthfully, the goal has shifted since my lord first awoke. In the beginning, he had no true reason for doing what he does. He simply decided that, as he held the knowledge to do so, that he might as well make use of it instead of just laying down and accepting hollowfication. The way he saw it, he was doomed either way, so why not go down fighting for something."
"And what has it changed to now?"
"Mainly enjoying his life with the friends and allies he has found solace with. Of course, his intentions for Anastacia and Velka are far more carnal in nature, but beyond a peaceful life alongside them, he does not seek much more. Once everything has been settled in the end, he plans to put in place things to guide the world in the right direction without him, then live his life peacefully."
"Now that sounds like the Prophet I know. A simple goal with a ridiculous path to achieve it." Oscar said, seemingly taking comfort in his friends uncomplicated desires. "So much for your little "Lord" proclamations or thoughts of him ruling anything."
At this, Yuria turned a sidelong glance and a smirk in Oscar's direction.
"Such little faith? And from a general no less." She said with a calm certainty in her voice. "I told you before, didn't I? Everything will fall into place with time. The power he will gain can only lead to his rule."
"Then tell me, what sort of power are you talking about? Tell me what he plans to do that will leave him in such a position to rule." Oscar asked aloud with a notably calmer demeanor than before. "You told me before that he plan to ends things with finality. How is he going to do it?"
"Heh, big questions from such a simple mind. But very well. You seem so thoroughly unconvinced of my lord destined greatness, how could a humble servant like myself possibly think to leave you in such an ignorant and hopeless state?" Yuria said with a shrug of her shoulders and a pleasant smile. "You are aware of Manus and of his true identity, yes?"
"He is the Furtive Pygmy. Taking a soul in likeness to that of the Lord Souls, the Dark Soul, and hiding away. Before being awakened and going mad."
"Very good, but not completely right. Manus does indeed hold the greatest piece of the True Dark Soul, but he is not the only one." Yuria informed. "You will recall the ones I spoke of known as the Pygmy Lords? They are essentially the same as Manus. Ancestors to humans. Or more accurately, they are incarnations of humanity's original form and strength. They fought alongside the Gwyn and the other gods in the name of defeating the dragons and once the fighting was done, Gwyn gave them a city and made an oh so touching promise that when the Age of Light was nearing its end that he would step aside and let them rule. So like useless fools, they've waited for centuries at the edge of the world for their turn."
"What?! Our race was alive during the war with the dragons?! We participated?!" Oscar said feeling the outrage rising in his chest. "But-. But if we worked together, then why would they seek to betray us? Why not rule together?! Why not spread the truth of our origins?!"
"Is it truly that much of a surprise to find that the greed of the gods is so boundless." Yuria said questioned offhandedly. "Though I must admit, erasing all evidence of human involvement, propping himself up as a benevolent ruler and making ignorant, willing slaves of the entire human race is quite the impressive feat. He was even willing to sacrifice his children to see his ambition done."
"Impressive? Its cowardly." Oscar said, clearly remembering the fear Quelaag said had gripped her people at the thought of humans growing in strength. "That bastard subjugates those that know nothing of themselves. When the time came to do the right thing and let nature take its course, he would rather plunge the world into ruin rather than have faith."
"Oh? And what of the peace he brought about in his time as king?" Yuria questioned curiously with a tilt of her head. Personally, she did not care much about Gwyn's rule or his relationship with the Pygmy's, they had nothing to do with her lords planned ruled after all, but she was interested in knowing how Oscar might react to such questions. "Did he not deliver a golden age for both humans and gods for a time? Would you truly not wish to go back to that time if given the chance?"
"Its not about whether we ruled justly or not. You said it yourself, we were made nothing more than ignorant pawns. Props to better decorate his precious city. No matter how exquisite the chains, a slave is still a slave." Oscar rebuked. "We need not look any further than the curse that marks us to see the truth. For that, I could never think to forgive the gods. And as for these Pygmy Lords? They hold no allegiance of mine. They did nothing as the rest of us remained blind, so as far as I'm concerned, they can die off like the rest."
Hearing this, Yuria clapped in a pleased manner.
"That's wonderful to hear, Oscar. I'm glad we're both on the same page about this topic because a key step in my lords plan is to completely destroy the Pygmy Lords, as well as their city, and take their power within himself. The same goes for that simpleton Manus." Yuria said with a cheerful air in her voice, as if she wasn't talking about total genocide of an ancient people.
"What? How would he possibly do something like that? Better yet, why would he want to do something like that? From what I understand Manus is connected to the Abyss, so would it not simply consume him if he tried to control it? " Oscar questioned, completely confused as to what she was talking about. "Not to mention that Manus has enough power to apparently transcend time. How could he even hope to fight something like that, much less think of control it?"
"Oh, now we're really getting into the juicy bit of things." Yuria said as she felt her giddy excitement growing within her chest. "Recall that I said that my lord knowledge is not his greatest strength? Well, the simplest way to think to explain his true power is to think not of his knowledge but of his very soul."
"His soul?"
"Oh, yes. It is quite unique in its nature." Yuria said as a familiar feeling of ecstasy faintly rushed through her body. "His very being is capable of changing and growing in power alongside his desire and will. Just think about it simply for a moment. How well did my lord fight with a blade and utilize his Pyromancy when you first joined him?"
"He was...barely capable of holding his own against a small group of hollows. Could barely even parry a spearhead effectively."
"And now he's grown enough to be more than a match for demons, mimic the Flames of the goddess of Sin, completely overcome an entire swarm of Red Phantoms and can learn at a rate that gives even Velka pause. Do you not see that these are not mere strokes of luck? It is a sign of what he is and that is only when he has begun to tap his potential." Yuria exclaimed with a dreamy smile she squeezed her hand over her heart and went to into her own little world for a moment. "I can only imagine how far he will grow yet, and this is before he even gains the strength of the Dark Soul."
Oscar was unsure of how to take this information. If what she said was to be believed, how was he too view the Prophet? A creature that will grow until nothing could match it? Or a valued friend just trying to do the right thing?
"Well, even if he can grow in strength and learn a faster than others, the Abyss and the First Flame are primordial forces. They dictate the state of the world itself. He can't possibly think to just take them with power alone." Oscar said, looking for a reason to doubt Yuria's words.
"And that is where my lord knowledge comes in handy. For he is the only one who sees all the pieces upon the board." Yuria said with a superior tone, glad to put the knight in his place for underestimating her master. "True, killing Manus by normal means will simply see his power and form split into a multitude of shards that will eventually gain their own individuality in time. So my Lord is left with no choice but to use….other means to the Dark Soul for himself."
"And what means would that be?" Oscar questioned.
"Heh, heh, I'm afraid that piece of knowledge is better left between myself and my lord." Yuria said, chuckling to herself at the little inside joke she shared with the Prophet. "All that matters is that Manus will be left with nothing and My Lord will wield his shard of the True Dark Soul. After that, It is merely a matter of making the Pygmy Lords relinquish their false thrones and taking their remaining power. Of course, their city and all within it will have to be annihilated, but there's no need to worry about the little things."
"You can't expect me to believe this. You think that the Prophet wants to overtake all these beings and reforge the Dark Souls for himself?"
"Not "think", I know. He and I are tied. I understand and accept all of his intentions." Yuria replied brightly.
"Fine, lets say I believe you. That I actually believe that the Prophet wants to become greatest force of darkness within the world. Why wouldn't that be enough to change things? The Dark Soul is just as powerful as the Lord Souls, isn't it? In fact, shouldn't it be even stronger now that their weakened?" Oscar questioned, wanting to reaffirm the doubt that dwelled within his mind.
"Well, yes and no. That is yet another overly complicated matter. Since he must retrieve it from the past, it is difficult to say just how potent the Dark Soul will be. Or the effect it will have upon reuniting with its future shards. Traveling through time is, as my lord would put it, "annoying bullshit." Yuria explained. "As you can probably tell, he does not like to think on the matter too much. I personally think that it is beneath his notice. If things of this world become to hectic, then the creation of a new Painted World using the Dark Soul as a pigment will still be an option to take. Ah, but we know not if a painter with such capabilities exist yet. But maybe Seath-
"What the hell are you talking about? Painted World? You know what, no, just stay on topic. I don't even want to know about whatever that is right now." Oscar interrupted irritably.
'Fine, fine. The long and the short of it is that there are to many unknown factors. Not to mention that my lord believes that simply being a vessel for the Dark Soul does not equal control of the abyss, as they do not seem to be one and the same."
"Then what's the point? If it can't do the one thing expected of it, then it's goddamn useless. Being powerful won't mean anything if the abyss consumes the welder just the same as the rest of us." Oscar replied.
"You think so small, Oscar. Gaining possession of the Dark Soul is but a Prelude. An appetizer. The truly wondrous event occurs afterword's when he gain possession of the Lord Souls. For you see, anyone with enough strength and willpower can bear the power of the old gods. But only two beings can be named unique enough to attain a state powerful enough to meet my lords true aim." Yuria said nearly bouncing in place at the delight building within. "Heh, heh, and since Ashen one's have yet to even come into existence exist, my Lord will remain uncontested."
"Just spit it out already!" Oscar said impatiently, fed up with her going into her own world and speaking vaguely on the matter that most vexed him.
Even at his impatience, Yuria felt noting but impish glee, the kind a child might feel at the coming of Christmas day. She couldn't help it. Out of every thought she'd been gifted from her encounter with her master, this was her favorite part.
She just needed a moment to calm her excitement and put it into words.
"Okay-okay-okay. Heh, heh, you're going to love this part, Oscar." she said as she nudged the knight with her elbow. "So my lord has reasoned that there are only two ways to truly bring about change. The first is to become truly soulless, able to store powerful souls and humanity while having none of your own. In essence, becoming empty. This is what beings known as Ashen One's inherently are, nothing more than glorified containers. But let's focus on the alternative path that my Lord chooses to walk…he intends to reach a state powerful enough to overcome the First Flame itself. With the essence of the True Dark Soul and the power of the Lord Souls under his control, my lord will be able to reach such a state. But the power will be incomplete so long as the Lord Souls remain in their weakened state. So he will return the ancients souls to the Kiln from whence they came and once they regain their original strength and attempt to overcome him….he will wed them both within himself."
At this, Oscar stood flabbergasted at what he was hearing.
"No...he can't. What happens to him once he does something like that? What will become of the world and its people? If the two opposing forces combine within him, they will undoubtably change and with that change who knows what will be born!" Oscar exclaimed.
"Precisely. That is exactly what my lord wishes to happen. To change the fate of all, even if that fate is completely unknown to his eye's." Yuria said with a devilish glint in her eye. "With the darkness and the light in balance within him, the world cannot fall into an age of light nor dark as the remnants of both will still exist, but not how they should. So they will likely have no choice but to meld and become something neither light nor dark. What comes next will be only what my lord wishes. Time, reality, space, even souls, will be but playthings to him. And even without his will, the world will undoubtably change on its own. Heh, heh, completely new beings are all guaranteed to be born. Spirits of death, life, revenge, compassion and countless others are all but tips of the spears. Humanity will grow in strength as our souls will still be linked to the Dark Soul, the gods will likely regain something resembling their former glory as the First Flame will have regained much of its former power, but ultimately my lords power will reign supreme. Ready to usher in a new age for all."
"No, but that-….we don't what will-…Why the would he-" Oscar said as he struggled to even find a point to begin to approach what he just heard. The Prophet, the man he'd come to trust and call a valued brother, was planning to reshape the entire world as everyone knew it into something that was completely incomprehensible. For better or worse, things would change and once they had, there would never be any going back. "Even if he has the knowledge to do so, even if the world is ending, he just decides that he's going to do something as outrageous and mad as this? He can't-…Just…How the hell am I supposed to react to this?"
It was an honest question born of confliction and uncertainty. This was far beyond his scope and he knew was not to prideful to accept that. To face such an unknown future without flinching, one would either need to be insane or just plain stupid.
Without even realizing it, the two had finally reached just outside the tree of their ultimate destination. As she heard the hesitation in his voice, Yuria stopped his advance and turned him so that were both facing one another.
"Well, that is the simplest question you've asked by far, Oscar." She said with a clear and confident tone. "What you are supposed to do is seek out and find my lord. Reach him once again. Once you do, your next step will be as clear as day. It's as simple as that."
With that, she reached up and brought up a hand to lay upon his arm, as if she were a friend and meant to console him in his time of doubt.
"Do not forget that you play an important role in this tale as well Oscar. Whenever my lord doubts himself or thinks that he is not able to push on, who do you think he turns too? Each of you, Solaire, Siegmeyer, Anastacia, Velka, he will need all of you to stand by his side to help him move forward. Even when he seeks out such ancient power, he will continue to look to all of you to remind him of his humanity and compassion." Yuria explained, trying to express just how much the knight was truly valued.
She raised hand in an inviting manner towards the tree.
"Through that path lies a being that will grant you the power enough to stand in the coming battles as a true ally and friend of my Lord. Continue to move forward or turn back the way you came as you please. But I implore you to stand by him and trust that my lord will find his way in all of this. He is far from invulnerable and there is much yet left within his path. The Primordial Serpents and their deceit, the remaining gods and their desire to remain in power, as well as a great many others. He will need you at his side in the coming war, Oscar. So what say you?"
Once again, a choice was presented before him. Turn away or push forward. Even more than when he was offered the choice before, Oscar struggled with it. The truth struck him that much harder to know that, beyond Yuria, he was the only one who was made aware of the reality of the Prophets intentions.
Thinking back on things, he wondered how it was possible for the Prophet have all this on his mind yet choose to carry it all with a smile and a laugh. All the lies, the obstacles stood before him, the pain that would await him, the responsibility of the world on his shoulders and the risk he would have to take….he bore it all on his own.
Letting this sit at the forefront of his decision, remembering that this was the prophet fighting this battle. He wasn't some tyrant or villain with aspirations of a kingdom. He was just a simple fool who wanted nothing more than to spend his days with those that cared for him.
So with a deep sigh and a turn of his body, he chose.
His footsteps, feeling heavier than before, crunched along the sand beneath him as he traveled towards the tree. Resigning himself to fight yet further alongside the Prophet in this maddening game of gods and fate. Telling himself that come hell or high water, he'd make sure to see him again and make sure he did not lose sight of what he was fighting for.
But more importantly, he swore to himself that he would give him a good punch straight to jaw the very instant they reunited with one another.
With a nod of approval, Yuria followed behind him. Glad that she now did not have to drain him dry once his back was turned. For in her mind, there was no room for cowards in her lords inner circle.
"Once again, you make the right decision, Oscar." Yuria praised silently as the two finally made their way through the entrance of the tree and towards the ancient she knew was within it. "Now let us get to the true fun of your tale."
HOLD YOUR HORSES! EVERYBODY JUST SETTLE THE HECK DOWN AND LET YOUR PAL SUPREME EXPLAIN A FEW THINGS!
First and foremost, I hope you guys enjoyed the sight of Quelaan being the greatest wingman in known Dark Souls history. I figured that with everything thats happened, she'd likely be the more outgoing and peppy of the two sisters. With Quelaag being the most prideful.
Secondly, regarding the Prophets true goal, I welcome anyone to find a flaw within it. Of course there are countless uncertainty about it, which will be mentioned and commented on in-story, but all in all, I feel like its a very viable solution to ending the cycle. But personally, I love the thought that no one, not even the Prophet himself, is going to happen if everything goes according to plan.
Thirdly, No one worry about the Mushroom Men. I've got special plans regarding them that revolve around Seigmeyer and the Darkroot Garden, so don't think I'm counting them out in this story. And thinking along that same line, do you guys think I should include Team Quelaag helping in the final big showdown in Anor Londo? I can just imagine the ceaseless Discharge going full King Kong, scaling Sen's Fortress and freaking out everyone in the city. XD
And lastly, Oscar is going to be far stronger than his current self once he joins the dragoon covenant. As stated before, I aim to make him the counter force to the Prophet. Gonna get my bow to god tier with those scale.
Okay, you crazy bro's. That all I got to say this time around.
As always, feel free to leave a review and tell me what you guys thought about this chapter of the story. Was Quelaag and Quelaag a nice addition to the story? She the two chaos sister get in on the fun alongside Oscar? Should Oscar have been more outraged at the prophets plan? Is the Prophets idea for a solution far too flawed?
Honest opinions are always appreciated as I'm always looking to improve my style of writing to make this story a bit more interesting for you guys. so don't be shy in telling me your thoughts about how things are going so far. Outside opinions will have a huge effect on how this story will play out.
This is Supreme Gamer, Signing out.
P.S. You know as things get bigger and bigger, I can't help but think Anor Londo's gonna be nothing but a parking lot once all is said and done. This is gonna be Avengers: Endgame level final battle. Complete with Gwyndolin dropping the whole "I don't even know who you are." line on Oscar. XD
P.P.S. Do you guys think it would take a fully scaled Oscar to solo the Hydra? I'm pretty sure even a low ranked dragon-human hybrid would be enough, right? Or am I low balling the Hydra's power?