The Outer Lord

by BrutalAftershock

From worlds lost to fog and times faded into forgotten myth, a cursed Lord emerges in the Lands Between. He is a man of many names and many deeds, things now only he remembers. Alone, he wars with the cycle and hunts the vile cosmic gods that shackle all life. To become Elden Lord is only the first step.

7. Chapter 7

The Outer Lord

Chapter 7: Raya Lucaria

Lunar Princess Ranni was nothing if not patient. For uncounted years, she'd planned and waited, only acting when both time and circumstance were aligned. It was such unwavering patience that had allowed her to get this far, to become what she had. From the decades she spent plotting the Night of Black Knives, which required precise timing and staggering sacrifice, to awaiting the day the stars moved once more. That required the death of her brother, the mighty and afflicted Starscourge. For that, she required a Tarnished of singular prowess. Alas, such an individual had yet to surface. That was, however, until she encountered Talos.

This Tarnished was unassuming at a glance. His armour was blackened and streaked with ash and grime. His cloak was torn and stained with blood. There was no pretence in his mannerisms or boastfulness in his words. Yet Ranni's sense for all things sorcerous and her own preternatural awareness of the world as an Empyrean informed her that Talos was anything but ordinary. Upon their first meeting, she felt his presence before she'd even laid eyes on him. Like a titanic ocean wave, it loomed, growing more and more daunting as he drew closer. The weight of the air around him steadily grew until it was thick and leaden, awash with the power he was no doubt keeping bottled within. Just to look at him was to look at what could be mistaken for a god. Though invisible to most, power rippled around Talos' form like heat haze. And his shadow... His shadow was enlarged unnaturally in the light. It was like the form he presented to the world was a falsehood. A lie created to hide what lay within. It was only because she was so attuned to the mystic aspects of the world that she could begin to see through the cracks in that facade.

Yet that wasn't what had made her invite him to her lands, though it was a factor. He had questioned her judgement, asking her if it were wise gifting a tool as powerful as the Spirit Calling Bell to a stranger, one whose motives were unknown. It was true that he could be an agent of chaos, a bringer of destruction with no care for the Golden Order or anything else besides. He then asked her for her own motives, her vision for the world, and that was the hook that had secured her interest. This was an opportunity. One that had never arisen, and would likely never present itself again. She needed to open a doorway, one that Talos could step into but on Ranni's own terms. From there, she could determine his goals while explaining her own.

While he had questioned her decision to gift him the bell, what Talos didn't know as that she was far more aware of the goings on in the Lands Between than he believed. Sorcery carried whispers on the wind, and a major indicator of Talos' temperament was the news of Greyoll's return.

Adula had been overjoyed when her mother's cyclopean shadow was cast over the rise. Heeding some unheard call, the Devourer of Sorcerers took wing and followed the Mother of Dragons. After some time, she returned with a different mood entirely. As one of the rare individuals who could commune with dragons, she learned all about the generous act performed by the mysterious Tarnished wanderer. More interestingly, Adula had relayed that Greyoll determined Talos to be a gentle soul, evidenced by his own words. He had grown sick of killing without due cause, and wished to cease mindless bloodshed. That was what made Ranni comfortable handing him the bell and inviting him to speak with her. She didn't need a pacifist, but she didn't need a mindless beast either.

And so, she waited. Nothing moved, nor had moved for a long time. She waited. And waited. And waited. She fiddled with her hands, twisting the ring on one of her twenty fingers. Ranni felt anxious. Apprehensive. She shifted in her heavily padded seat. How would she approach this? Did she go with her usual speech? While Blaidd and Iji had been her constant companions since childhood, others had come and gone from her service, most of... unsavoury character. The most immediate person was Seluvis, the Preceptor from the academy. He needed little in the way of convincing. If anything, he seemed to serve her for another purpose, but he did his work and didn't get in her way, so she allowed him his freedom.

Convincing someone of better character than Seluvis, while an admittedly low bar, was another matter. Who could say what Talos truly believed or where his loyalties lay. What knowledge of the Carian royal family did he already possess? What opinions had he already formed? The possibility existed that he had somehow learned of her involvement in the Shattering, and depending on his stance, revealing her true name could completely change the tone of their discussion. Perhaps playing coy and aloof to draw him in would be for the best. Then again, he may not appreciate that kind of thing. He certainly seemed rather forthright when they'd first met, and Blaidd, with the exception of herself, much preferred people be honest and speak unvarnished. She trusted her Shadow's assessment of people, and he seemed rather fond of Talos.

The sound of the elevator up to her rise coming to a halt caught her attention. She hadn't called for Blaidd or Seluvis, and Iji had never once been able to board it, so that left one likely possibility. Her guest had arrived. Ranni brushed her hands down her skirt to smooth it out before resting her lower hands on her lap, while she steepled the fingers of her upper hands. She was hesitant to admit that she was nervous, but she couldn't overstate how important this meeting was. To gain an ally steeped in strength such as this was an opportunity most could only dream of. If Talos were to work with her, she could potentially be on the path to achieving her destiny.

Boot steps. They drew closer. She saw his dark shape pass by the left-most window, and then he was before her, darkening the doorway. He stood at the threshold, awaiting her admittance. The Lunar Princess kept her single open eye on him, then gave a slow, shallow nod. He walked forward, stopping a few paces away. The room smelled of wood ash, where mere moments before, it smelled of old paper and the chill air.

''Welcome, Talos. I hope thy journey to my rise was without too much duress,'' Ranni began, ''was the seal I provided thee of use?'' She could see it, even now. The doorway and the open air behind him rippled and warped around him. If she weren't so focused on him, she would lose sight of the finer details of him, like a smudge of grease on glass.

''It was, and you have my thanks, Lady Renna,'' Talos gave a shallow bow, ''I've seldom had such a smooth entrance to such places. Iji was most accommodating.''

''That gladdens me. Few come here, and even fewer are invited. Hath thou come alone?'' she asked. It never hurt to ask. Last she'd seen him, he was with Blaidd and the curious Warrior Jar. Blaidd was never typically one for company on his journeys.

''I have journeyed here with one other, though she is with the guardian of this place,'' Talos informed her. Lanya had taken particular exception to being left behind with the phantasmal knight on the horse. ''She knows I am your guest. My companion will be safe, won't she?''

''As long as thou'st made it clear, then no harm shall befall her. Now, to business,'' Ranni folded one hand over the other on her lap, ''thou'st questions about my motives, didst thou not?''

''Correct. I aim to become Elden Lord, but I find myself lacking knowledge of others in the Lands Between. You seem to be a woman of means, Lady Renna. So I assume you must have some stake in how the world is to be.''

''Myself and others each have their own vision. Ours likely differ. But before I tell thee of mine, would it not be courteous to unveil thine own ambitions?'' Ranni's eye bored into him. This was the moment that mattered most.

''I believe I asked you first, but as I am here on your terms, I shall indulge your curiosity,'' Talos paused for a moment, seemingly pondering his words. Little did Ranni know that there were actually three people in this room. ''I wish to rid this world of gods.''

Neither said anything for a short while. She hadn't expected that bold admission. There was no skirting around it, no posturing or metaphor. His intent was clearly stated. Unmistakable. To rid the world of gods was to gouge out the very heart of the Lands Between, to banish belief in the unseen overlords, and cast those very same overlords into the abyss of history. Ranni gave him a small smile, her one cerulean eye twinkling with rapt interest. Had he known she would favour this course of action? Surely not, but he'd said it with such surety of purpose. Perhaps he needn't worry, though. His presence alone gave her the distinct impression that he knew that he could make such bold declarations without fear. After all, he had an ocean's depth of power held at bay. Who could rightly argue and hope to win should it turn violent? Just touching the merest edges of his aura was enough for her to make that judgement.

''A bold declaration, Talos. But to state one's goal and to achieve it art matters of disparate natures. One might accuse thee of arrogance,'' Ranni said, ''canst thou be sure such goals do not contravene my own?''

''I wouldn't know. Do they?'' Talos asked, a hint of challenge in his tone. She held his gaze, and once more, a small smile curved her pale blue lips.

''Thou art a most unusual Tarnished. There are those who tire of their obeisance to the Two Fingers, but I have yet to see one cast off all would-be masters. I might be of a mind to do the same,'' Ranni said.

''So you would see the gods cast out as well?'' Talos pressed.

''Perhaps I do,'' Ranni said coyly, ''how dost thou view the gods? What is it that stirs thy disdain for them?''

Talos grunted as he thought about how to concisely voice how much he despised them. He doubted that he could do his hatred of the gods justice in any sensible time frame, but he'd try.

''Ordinarily, I would offer you a myriad of insults to convey my disgust for those unseen cosmic parasites. But that isn't what you asked for, is it,'' he took a breath before he began. ''To be clear, my experience with these things has led me to believe that the inhabitants of this world have been deceived. We swim in an ocean of predators, Lady Renna. The void is home to things that delight in the carnage they cause. They seek out life, then sink their disgusting tendrils into their minds, supping on the worship those poor, deluded fools offer so freely. The faithful become chattel. Playthings to manipulate and break upon their whims.''

Ranni saw how Talos' fingers twitched. The rippling she saw around Talos grew fiercer until his form was naught but a blur. He was growing angry, disgusted by the things he was recalling as he spoke. For the first time in an age, Ranni felt tense, but she would listen as intently as she could.

''Blood curses, nightmare realms, worlds perpetuated by beautiful falsehoods. The gods dangle tantalising prizes in the starry eyes of their faithful, using their mortal chattel to enact their schemes, only to spite them in the end. Worlds die. Eras end. But the gods are stubborn beasts. They cling to what they stole, ruining everything they touch, then have the audacity to leave mankind to clean up their messes. Everything the gods create is nothing but lies. Lies, lies, lies, lies and more lies!''

'Calm thyself, Talos,' Marika soothingly intoned, 'I know speaking of them is difficult for thee, but thy focus must hold. I can only imagine the true depths of thy enmity, the horror of the things thou hast seen. But I will share this burden with thee soon. Prithee, Talos, maintain thy composure.'

'Devils, Marika. You must understand that the world is beset and bewitched by devils,' Talos replied heatedly. The Eternal Queen was worried about this. She had learned some things about her Consort through their bond. One thing was his origin as a peasant boy who became a knight. Another was of the family he'd begun with a loving wife and, Marika had to admit, lovely, if wily children. However, there was a jump forward, far removed from memories of his home and family. It was a city of eternal night, where beasts and horrors that defied reason infested every shadow in every street. There, she saw the work of the so-called Great Ones and their warping influence. One memory of Talos' in particular churned her stomach.

He'd found a woman named Arianna, a lady of the night, below the chapel that various people had sheltered in. There she sat, her head in her hands and weeping woefully as a tiny, malformed creature looked up at her, cooing and burbling. At first, Marika was confused, but she quickly learned from what Talos already knew. One of the Great Ones had forced this abomination upon the weeping woman, forcing her to birth its get without her knowledge or will. As a mother herself, Marika couldn't countenance such a thing. Though her body was incorporeal as she explored Talos' memories, she still raised a hand to where her womb lay within her. Such a violation. Such a horrifying defilement of motherhood. For Talos, it was yet another example of higher beings using humans callously for their own unknowable ends.

She needed to keep him calm and focused. His mind became a sea of boiling hatred when he thought of his chosen enemy. It was justified, but it would only be a detriment to their efforts if he lost himself here.

'I know, dear Consort, I know. 'Tis how we came to be here. Devils or not, our oaths art binding. We do not fight alone. Thou'st stated thy goal here is to ally with the Lunar Princess. So I beseech thee, control thy ire for now,' Marika said softly.

Talos exhaled through his nose, his mind realigning itself with the task at hand as he met Ranni's expectant gaze.

''That is my view, Lady Renna. The gods must die and mankind set free,'' his tone, formerly bordering on frantic anger, was now measured and hard like steel.

''Yes,'' Ranni said finally, '''tis a fine goal. Excellent, even. 'Twould seem we are indeed aligned. I wish to see a world free of the Golden Order, the Fingers, and all things that would dare think themselves masters of fate,'' she smiled wider, her eye narrowing as she was now fully invested in this fascinating Tarnished.

''Let us dispense with the deception then, '' Talos said, ''if we are to work together, I would have us end this charade. Renna is not your name. I know this. I also know the name you hide. You are Ranni, the Lunar Princess of the Carian royal family, daughter of the second Elden Lord Radagon and Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.''

Ranni's face was impassive as she spoke. ''Thou art quite the sleuth, aren't thee? I am curious, Tarnished. Why hath thou come to me?''

''I have travelled far and wide, and come to discover that your distaste for the Greater Will is similar to my own. I wanted to see that for myself. But I have more immediate business here. Your mother.''

''Ah, thou seeketh her Great Rune. That would place us in opposition, would it not?'' Ranni said coolly. She watched Talos closely, trying to discern his intent. ''Should thee pursue this course, I would defend her, even from thee.''

''Which is why I came to you. The tale of Raya Lucaria is known to me only in pieces, but most pertinent to my purpose here is the story of Rennala. Your mother is shut inside the academy, beset by unabating grief.'' Talos' tone became laden with something heavy, though Ranni couldn't quite discern what it was.

''That she is. What of it, Tarnished?'' her eyes narrowed, not in suspicion, but in curiosity.

''She has committed no crime. Rennala suffers for the machinations of the Greater Will, and I will not harm an innocent. Not this time,'' he saw Maiden Astraea's pleading face in his mind, ''so I come to you. I need your help. What can I do to secure the Great Rune without bringing harm to Queen Rennala?''

''I see...'' Ranni seemed uncertain. This was an unexpected turn, she had to admit. Tarnished were often rapacious in their quest for the throne, and little consideration was given to who or what they destroyed along the way. In the past, there had been devilishly cunning Tarnished that had slipped past Moongrum and sought entrance to the Grand Library, only to find Ranni's powerful illusions guarding the door. Not once had she been approached for a peaceful solution. It was refreshing, but also further affirmed her interest in Talos.

'''Tis most curious, Talos. That thou wouldst ask me for aid in this matter is telling of thy character. Perhaps a worthy lord thou may yet make,'' all four of her hands steepled their fingers then, and a small smile graced Ranni's lips, ''very well. I will aid thee. When thou'st arrived at my mother's dwelling, call for me and I will come.''

''I am grateful, Lady Ranni. But do not think I would ask without offering something in exchange,'' Talos said.

''Oh? Speak, then.''

''The stars are arrested. Halted from their course. I am told that your fate is tied to the journey of the stars, and the one responsible for their stasis awaits in the pestilent Caelid. If you would have me, I would offer my power to you and put Radahn to rest in exchange for your help.''

Ranni's smile grew.

---

The wind and rain rushed around them as they approached the Academy of Raya Lucaria. Ranni had seen fit to lend Talos the services of Adula, the Devourer of Sorcerers, and so he and Lanya sat on her back. Lanya had initially been rather put off by the prospect, but soon after they'd taken off, she was whooping and an hollering with excitement. She had quickly forgotten her confusion at Talos' seeming ability to communicate clearly with a dragon of all creatures.

Adula herself was practically buzzing with joy. Her mother, Greyoll, had informed her of Talos and his service to her. She told Adula what she would tell the rest of her children. Talos was a friend to dragons, and so she and her kin were not to hinder him in any way, but rather help him if they could. As soon as she had met with Talos and his companion, he spoke of the arrangement he had with Ranni and Adula leapt at the chance to be of assistance. Not only because it was a directive from her master, but at the benefit of the one her mother had spoken so highly of. However, he didn't look anything like her mother had described, but the scent was the same. Ancient, powerful, contradictory. Truth told, despite her excitement, she was still somewhat apprehensive at having such a being atop her back.

Talos tapped the scales of Adula's neck. ''Set us down where you think it is safe. We do not know what kind of defences they've set up.''

'Their defences are numerous, friend of dragons. Many a time have I flown near, only to be beset by great lances of glintstone sorcery. My kin and I steer clear of this place.'

As she finished speaking, a blue flash erupted in the distance. Adula banked sharply as a large spear of magic shot past them, shrieking through the air before exploding a few hundred feet back. More came, a salvo of glittering blue light tracking the dragon's path. Blooms of light lit up the sky of Liurnia, and the thunderous roar of distant explosions was like the voice of a storm.

Adula weaved and rolled, the manoeuvre threatening to throw her passengers free. Talos clenched his thighs and dug his heels into Adula's scales as he grabbed one of Lanya's arms and wrapped it around his waist, prompting her to do the same with the other. He could just about hear her screaming amidst the rushing wind and sonorous booms of sorcerous bombardment.

'I cannot get much closer!'

Talos saw a wide open space where there was a tall, arched doorway. Two access points were blocked, one was a sealed gate, and the other was the ruins of a collapsed bridge. He decided that's where they'd access the Academy.

''That doorway there! Go low and we'll jump!'' Talos called and the dragon obeyed. Adula dived and swept low, pulling her speed back as much as she could. Talos turned and grabbed Lanya. He pulled her close and jumped from the dragon's back with his own back to the ground. They slammed into the flagstones with Talos taking the brunt of the impact. Their bodies rolled while Talos kept his arms firmly locked around Lanya, even as his back smashed harshly into the stone balustrade, halting their roll.

Adula roared and took off, heading back away from the Academy as massive glintstone lances launched at her in rapid succession. Once she was far enough away, the bombardment stopped.

Talos groaned and released his hold on Lanya. She rose to her knees, breathing shakily.

''Bloody hell,'' she said, ''you alright? That fall was pretty nasty.'' Talos stood and arched his back while rolling his shoulders. After some satisfying cracks, he dusted himself off and offered a hand to the young woman. She took it and stood on wobbly legs.

''First time I've made such an entrance. Hopefully it's the last,'' he said flatly.

Lanya saw Talos reach behind his back and retrieve his bottomless box. ''Where were you keeping that?'' she asked incredulously. He ignored her as he set it down and opened it, he reached in up to his shoulder as he fished around inside the box. From it, he took out a large greatsword and a jagged, curved dagger. He set them aside and rooted around some more until he found a shield emblazoned with a golden crest all across its surface.

''Here,'' Talos offered her the shield, ''your own shield will fare poorly here. This is sturdier and will provide you some defence against sorcery.'' Lanya took the shield, her eyes wide as she looked over the heraldry on its face.

''Looks real fancy. Ya' sure you wanna be handin' this to me?'' she asked. Talos nodded.

''It belonged to an old friend and has served me well. But I've no need of it now. I think he would approve, though.'' Oscar of Astora was a kind soul, and he was certain the noble knight would have wanted this.

As for himself, he decided that the Farron Greatsword was a good option. While he realised that he would likely find himself fighting in cramped hallways, the extra reach of the greatsword as well as the paired dagger would provide an advantage in versatility. Paired with Talos' bestial agility, the weapons would be excellent killing tools regardless of his surroundings.

They entered a wide square chamber with a large lift in the centre. They boarded it and Talos stepped on the central plate to set the mechanisms into motion and they began to rumble and rise.

''Ready?'' Talos asked. Lanya nodded.

''Doesn't matter at this point, does it? Bit scared, but hey, that's adventure, innit? Tell ya' what, though, Hoslow's never gonna believe this when I tell him,'' she laughed, ''I killed three brigands, visited the Caria Manor, rode a dragon, and now I'm gonna meet Queen Rennala. Who'd have guess little ol' me would be doin' any of that?''

''Oh, believe me, when I was young, I never saw it either,'' Talos chuckled, ''but don't worry. I'll protect you as best I can. Watch my back as well, won't you?''

''Count on it,'' she grinned.

The rumbling ceased and with a metallic thunk, the lift stopped. Before them, lashed with rain and shimmering with strange, etheric light from above, was a stone bridge flanked by gargoyles. Bird cages hung from the architecture, seemingly without rhyme nor reason. Up above, they saw the first face of the academy. Towering spires loomed high above, and windows were lit from within. In the air, strange streams of blue ether hung in the air like a borealis.

They walked forward, seeing a gateway of wrought iron at the far end, preceded by a small yet wide set of stairs.

''Can you feel it?'' Talos asked.

''Feel what?''

''The air. It is saturated with magic. Even through my armour, it prickles at my skin. This place is like a nexus for sorcery.'' He watched the streams of multi-hued light languidly meander through the air.

''It's a bit hard to breathe, no prickles, though. That normal?'' Lanya wondered.

''Perhaps. I'm well attuned to sorcery, so perhaps that makes me sensitive to it. Keep your guard up.''

As soon as they passed through the iron gate way, two sorcerers atop the long flight of stairs to the academy proper saw them. They raised their staffs, and within mere moments, Talos and Lanya were assailed by glintstone projectiles. Lanya's shield came up and stopped three of them from hitting her, but now she was stuck. They kept coming in an endless stream, slamming into her shield one after another.

''Balustrade to your left, take cover!'' Talos ordered. At their rate of fire, those sorcerers would allow him no time to cast any spells or use any miracles, so his only practical option was to rush them down. He was certain he could make a run up the stairs. He'd considered using his gun, but for Lanya's sake, he didn't want to draw the attention of the entire academy.

Springing forward, he kept low as he advanced in what looked like a bestial crouch. Sorcery came at him like bullets, but he weaved around them as they blasted chunks out of the stonework. He took strides that cleared several steps each until he got near the top and launched himself into the two. His sword came up as he twisted like a cat mid-air, following through and splitting one of them from shoulder to hip on the down stroke. Crouched, he twisted and straightened up, his jagged dagger following in an arc until it plunged into the throat of the other. He twisted it and ripped it free, spraying himself, the sorcerer's red and blue vestments and the stonework with crimson. Their stone crowns that enveloped their whole heads were locked in silent groans.

''Come on, inside!'' Talos called. Lanya followed, her sword and shield at the ready as Talos reeled back and kicked the doors dead centre, sending both large doors swinging open. He rushed in first, seeing another sorcerer at an altar ahead. Relentless, he didn't give him the chance to cast any spells as he charged and somersaulted, bringing his greatsword crashing down on him. His body split apart and blood splashed across the altar.

From the ceiling, strange figures made of bones with cages in place of torsos and multiple arms fell. Immediately, they tried to slay the intruders. One had two bows, and with no constraints on its movement and fuelled by foul magics, it began firing arrows as if it were a machine. Lanya was closest and held off the barrage as she bolted towards it. Her shield slammed into the cage of its torso, knocking it back, then her sword swept low and chopped into a leg. Bone split and the grim mannequin toppled to one side.

Sensing danger, Lanya spun and blocked four blades a split second before they could pierce her mail. She bent her knees and braced against the oncoming weight of the construct, but when the moment presented itself, she pushed forward, driving her weight back into her attacker. It stumbled back, only to have a ball of flame strike it in the back. Its cage melted and bones charred until it collapsed in a heap of molten slag and blackened bone.

''Cheers,'' Lanya said gratefully, getting a nod in return. They left the church and entered a place that seemed mostly untouched by the builders of the academy. Cliffside rock and mud was sluiced with rain, while grave stones lined a well-trodden pathway down a slope. Proceeding, the crossed a wooden bridge. On the other side, undead creatures, tall and putrid, wandered aimlessly. While they were all cadaverous, some were more intact than others. Some carried more flesh, while others were almost skeletal. Large hounds with similarly rotted bodies sat languidly in the mud.

''Gods... the hell're those?'' Lanya winced at the sight. Her nose stung at the over-sweet corpse stench they radiated.

''I don't know. They're undead, but whether that's by design or otherwise, I'm not sure. Who knows what vile things occurred here. Sorcery left unchecked often produces such things,'' Talos said as he though back to Seath's Archive and the Witch of Izalith's entire city.

''Should we just run for the exit? Who knows how many there are.''

''We could get overwhelmed further ahead. At the very least, we should clear these ones out so we have a path to retreat. In my experience, creatures such as these have quite the aversion to fire.''

''Oh yeah?'' Lanya raised an eyebrow, ''gonna throw more of them fire balls, then?''

''Better,'' suddenly, flames erupted along the length of the Farron Greatsword's blade, engulfing it in its entirety.

''You're something else, ya' know that?'' Lanya couldn't help but laugh quietly. If only she knew how right she was. Talos took something from a pouch on his waist and offered it to her. It was a cloth, and in the middle of it was a clump of viscous black sludge. ''Um... what's that?''

''The merchant I bought it from called it Charcoal Pine Resin. Run it along your blade and coat it in the resin. Do it quickly. It's highly combustible and reacts when in contact with metal.'' Lanya took it and did as Talos instructed. Once that was done, it took a few seconds, but the blade began to dance with flames along its length.

''Add 'wielded a fire sword' to the list of things I never expected to do,'' Lanya said in amazement.

''Come,'' Talos rushed ahead amidst the gathered undead things, his blade and dagger in swift, brutal motion. Putrefied flesh rent and burned, spilling soured, blackened blood splashing to the ground and up grave stones. Four were slain in a second, but the ground ruptured as more of them began to surface from their graves. He rounded on an undead hound as it leapt and opened its jaws, aiming to clamp down around his throat. His dagger followed his gaze and sliced into its neck and the momentum of Talos' turn sent the hound hurtling off to the side. Then he felt a grotesque hand grab his wrist in an iron grip, and another wrap around his head as fingers tried to work their way into his visor.

Lanya came in to help Talos, her burning blade swinging and she drove it down through a torso. It parted through the shoulder and got lodged in the core, where she twisted and withdrew, then hacked again. Rotten flesh sizzled and blackened, intensifying their fetid stink. Talos was able to pull his head free, then sliced through the arm holding his wrist with a squelching crack. The undead things groaned and gurgled, and the one with the severed hand swatted Talos in the chest with inhuman strength. He stumbled back with a grunt, then twisted, sweeping his burning greatsword out and bisected the undead that had grabbed his head.

Seeing an opening, Lanya ran forward and ran the other one through to the hilt. Despite its strength, his flesh was weak, allowing her to drag the blade up, spilling fetid organs from its torn belly. Guts splashed in yellow-grey loops to the mud, but she pushed through the need to gag as the stink of it's thoracic cavity met her nose like a physical force. Her blade pulled sideward and out through its side. A moment later, the Farron Greatsword cleaved downward through the towering thing's head, its upper body falling away to its sides before it wetly slapped to the ground.

More were coming, their shambling forms inching closer, arms outstretched and fingers grasping at the air. The mud burst open as limbs reached skyward, followed by heads whose jaws opened and closed, biting at nothing. Soon, they would be pressed in, swallowed by a forest of sloughing, stinking meat.

''We can't stay here. We'll follow your suggestion and push forward,'' Talos growled, his burning blade blurring in an arc that sent rancid gore slopping from three of the lanky undead. He threw a hand out and dark magic engulfed it, then erupted out in blasts that disintegrated a number of them and opened up a narrow path. They pushed through, chopping and hacking at limbs aiming to ensnare them. They followed the winding path, ignoring the undead that began pushing from the ground.

''Talos!'' he turned, only to see one of the lumbering things lurching for him from behind a tall, broad headstone, its hands poised to grab him and tear him apart. Lanya intercepted it, slamming the edge of her shield into its side before burying her blade in the side of its chest, flesh sizzling. With ungainly sluggishness, it batted her aside surprising strength, sending her back towards the oncoming tide. She landed on her back in the mud, where hands sprung up and gripped her limbs. She screamed out in terror, feeling their vice-like grip threatening to snap her bones like tinder. A head arose next to her, its teeth gnashing by her face, forcing her to turn away as corpse-rotten breath assaulted her nostrils.

The cloaked Tarnished launched himself into them, heedless of the danger. His great blade chopped and hacked while his dagger sliced and mauled. He wouldn't let her die. Not here. Not like this. Bodies split apart while fire cooked their felled flesh. They shrieked and moaned, shrinking back from the trails of fire before Talos advanced on them and slicked the ground with their fetid gore.

Frantic, Lanya tugged and pulled, managing to free her sword arm and chopped through the forearms that gripped her left leg and shield arm. She breathed hard, her breath misting in the cold, damp air. Then she stood, her back caked in mud. Turning, she saw Talos in the thick of slaughter, his blades in constant motion as the undead things fell by the score. An upward swing sent one of them several feet into the air, its chest and head yawning open, then a somersault arced the blade through torsos and legs thoroughly butchering the creatures. Talos' curved dagger kept arms and hands at bay as it sliced through fingers and severed tendons.

The last of them was slain, its body strewn across the ground in three places. Talos turned to her and her face paled. He didn't want to know how he looked. Not only was he drenched in gore, but he'd felt Lanya's eyes on him. He was well aware he fought like an animal, especially with the Farron Greatsword. The great wolf it was associated with, and the legendary knight the Farron Order shared their roots with drew upon the beast within its wielder. There was no other way to fight with this weapon.

''You're not hurt?'' Talos asked. It took a moment, but Lanya blinked and shook her head.

''Nah, I'm... I'm good,'' she replied shakily, ''thanks for that.''

''Don't. I was careless. I should be thanking you, Lanya. I could have used a comrade like you in my youth.''

''Oh. Well, you're welcome, I guess,'' Lanya said awkwardly, then smiled, ''said I'd watch your back, didn't I?'' Talos nodded.

''Indeed. I'm beginning to realise how capable you are. Hoslow's rather fortunate.''

''Bloody right, he is,'' she looked around, ''s'pose we should get moving, yeah? Doubt it's gonna stay quiet for long.''

Indeed, it didn't stay quiet. Pushing further along, they found more of the reanimated horrors, along with several hounds. However, there looked to be an end in sight as they spotted a torch-lit doorway built into a tall stone wall. The space was wide enough that Talos could kill a good number of them in a single stroke. Telling Lanya to keep her distance, Talos unleashed his sorcery once more. He plunged his greatsword into the ground, the flames wrapping the blade roaring with renewed intensity. The blade sunk deeper with a sudden push and long cracks spiderwebbed outward from his sword, smoke and fire billowing from the fissures in the ground. Then one after another, giant phantasmal blades, each curved and laden with the bones of those long dead, erupted from the ground in jets of fire.

Impaled, thrown skyward, immolated, rent apart, decrepit hounds and festering undead were destroyed by a spell of Talos' own making. The 'Tombfire Blade Dance' he called it. A combination of the power of Gravelord Nito and the profane pyromancy of the Witch of Izalith. It took some time to synergise and master, but after countless trials and failures, the successful results were beautiful in their destructive capability.

''Ya' know,'' Lanya began as she looked at the carnage, ''I'm startin' to think I ain't needed.''

Talos pulled his blade from the ground and looked at her. ''Perhaps not, I won't lie to you. But it's still an adventure, right?'' he said wryly.

''Yeah, sure. Terrifyin', deadly and disgustin' so far, but an adventure. S'pose I can't complain too much. I'd rather this than cleaning the Hoslow family stables again,'' she laughed.

As they pushed deeper into the academy, they filled the halls with the blood of sorcerers.

---

Moongrum watched and waited. This was his given task as a Knight of the Carian royal family. Undying, vigilant and eternally duty-bound, he stood at his station, ready to contend with any who would dare threaten Queen Rennala. Over the ages, Moongrum and killed or driven off countless Tarnished, some mightier than others. His duty had almost killed him, he was humble enough to admit that, but his determination and loyalty to his queen always carried to him to victory.

Today was no different. Even as the rain came down, he remained before the lift to the Grand Library, his armour soaked and dripping. It was of little consequence. His comfort did not compare to his sworn duty. This was even more the case since he was the only one left, his venerable order all but extinct, save for himself. Nobody else could be trusted with the queen's safety. Not the scholars of the academy, and certainly not those traitor bastards within the Knights of the Cuckoo. While he bitterly accepted that the Cuckoos were beyond his reach, he took quiet satisfaction in having killed more than a few scholars that had wandered too close over the years. His shield rendered their magic useless, and his own sorcery was greater than theirs.

He wished to wipe them out, truth be told. But they had their uses. They were roadblocks for wayward Tarnished, either making them flee completely, or by wearing them down enough that by the time Moongrum faced them, they were too fatigued or wounded to pose much of a challenge. It felt cheap and dishonourable, and perhaps it was, but he'd weather any stain on his honour so long as he could perform his sworn duty to the Queen of the Full Moon.

''How did it all come to this?'' he asked quietly as he looked up at the dark, cloud-choked sky. It was far from the first time he'd asked that question, and he doubted it would be the last. He'd been there for all of it. From the old wars, to the fall of Raya Lucaria, to the Shattering. He'd seen it all. He'd fought at Rennala's side, when she strode the battlefield as the spell-blade queen. As one of her closest knights and a member of her inner circle, Moongrum loyally served as her sword and her shield. When Radagon was cutting his bloody path across Liurnia, Moongrum was amongst the first to face the champion of the Golden Order in single combat. He'd lost, of course, badly wounded by the future Elden Lord, but Radagon had spared him, praising Moongrum for his skill and honourable conduct.

Rennala had been furious, then. She came as a storm to protect one of her knights, her regal armour gleaming, her eyes blazing and her devastating sorcery changing the land where it struck. Oh, she was a sight to behold, so resplendent in her sheer presence it brought tears to his eyes when he considered what she was now. Nobody had mastered sorcery like her, or had such an understanding of it. Whenever she brought her power to bear, Moongrum would always watch, awed by Rennala's prowess.

After years of war, peace reigned as Radagon and Rennala were wed. Moongrum had gotten to know the new king personally, finding him to be a stern yet personable presence. He was fair to his people and loving to his family. The Knights of Caria willingly swore their blades to their king, seeing him as a man just as worthy of their service as the queen. Their heirs were born soon after. Radahn was first-born, then Rykard and finally, Ranni. Moongrum cared for them like they were his own, always worrying for them when they were playing, to the point that Radagon had compared him to a mother hen in jest. The king, like the children, started calling him 'Uncle Grum', though the the children did so far less mockingly. The knight enjoyed those quiet years, and he regretted how easily he'd taken them for granted.

As quickly as peace arrived, it was gone. In a brief span of months, the king's humours had changed. He became quiet and contemplative, distracted by whatever conflict that raged within him. He no longer held long discussions with Rennala or played and told stories to his children. It had been noticed by his family and by the knights, but it was thought of as merely the rigours of kingship weighing on him. But when Rennala or the knights would ask the well being of their king, he would dismiss it with a jest or platitude, then later said nothing at all.

Then suddenly, Radagon abdicated the throne, left Rennala and headed north to the Altus Plateau without word or explanation to neither his wife or children. Rennala was heartbroken, her family fell into disarray, and the Knights of Caria did their best to keep the peace as powers within the kingdom began to act for their own interests, seeing the queen in her weakened state. The academy sorcerers had hired the Cuckoos, a band of vicious mercenaries and clad them in great, noble armour, granting them a disgusting facsimile of knighthood.

The so-called Knights of the Cuckoo scoured the land, butchering and pillaging without conscience or relent. Nobles were hunted down, the Albinaurics were massacred, and they'd even made an attempt at invading the Carian Manor, where a defensive battle had seen the Manor spared, but a great number of Moongrum's fellow knights killed in the fighting. Moongrum himself had, with the assistance of Blaidd the Half-Wolf, and Iji the Troll, stole Ranni away into the night to keep her safe. And then he returned to the Academy, too late to stop his queen from being locked within the Grand Library, but just in time to be locked within the academy's walls.

Burning with wrath, Moongrum, a single loyal knight against a veritable fortress full of powerful sorcerers, cut bloody swathes through their ranks to reach Rennala once he'd beaten her location from the lips of a snivelling traitor. He found the Grand Library, its great doors sealed by powerful magic. He tried to get inside, to break the doors open, but nothing he did had any effect. All while he heard Rennala's muffled sobs from the other side. When his sorceries failed, crashing against the doors uselessly, he slumped against it, slamming his fist against the dark wood. After that, his vigil began. If he couldn't get in, then he'd make sure that nobody else could either.

Even as The Shattering shook the very foundations of the world, and the stars were held in stasis, Moongrum never left his post. The countless wars that ravaged the Lands Between were of little interest to him so long as nothing dared threaten his queen's safety.

So Moongrum waited. And waited. And he waited. Always ready.

His attention snapped ahead as he heard footsteps and the rattle of plate and chain. The Glintstone-imbued sword he carried was free of its sheath in an instant and he stalked forward. Moongrum saw two people, one was clearly a woman with blonde hair, outfitted in chainmail and leather gauntlets. The other, though it was harder to discern, appeared to be a man judging by the greater height and broadness of shoulders. The taller figure wore blackened, filthy armour with a rain and gore soaked cloak and hood.

''Turn and leave,'' Moongrum said, his voice a baritone rumble through his helm. The two stopped walking and the knight watched carefully. The taller figure had a massive blade on his back, while the woman had a shortsword drawn.

Moongrum's grip tightened.

---

'A Knight of Caria? I'd thought them wiped out...' Marika said after a long period of silence. Being in Raya Lucaria was unsettling for the Eternal Queen. This place was where tragedy had taken place, and she lamented that, whether she was directly involved or not, had happened because the Greater Will had made pawns of them all. During her rule with Radagon, she'd stayed away from Liurnia, letting her literal other half handle matters pertaining to the Land of Sorcery. She couldn't bear knowing her mutually unwanted union with Radagon had destroyed not only a family, but a dynasty and a province.

Radagon would always return from Liurnia drained, like the place sapped the life from him like a leech. She knew why, of course. His history was there. His happiest memories were buried in the waterlogged soil in a mass grave of dashed hopes and broken promises. That was before the wars broke out, and as much as Radagon wanted to muster his forces and quell the rebellious Raya Lucaria, he no longer had that power. Liurnia was left to settle its own affairs, and Radagon could only watch as the province fell to ruin. On an unofficial visit, he'd smuggled himself into the academy and left his loyal Red Wolf to guard the debate parlour as a measure to defend his former beloved in his stead. Marika was grateful that Talos had simply put the beast to slumber rather than kill it.

'Where have you been?' Talos asked as he stared Moongrum down.

''Tis not the time, Talos. Did I not tell thee this would be unpleasant for me? Make haste and be done here,' Marika said testily. She was still preparing herself to see Rennala in the flesh. She could handle the Liurnian nobility thinking her a seductress and a whore who led their king astray, but she was quietly most afraid of her fellow queen's judgement. Would she scream and rage at the injustice of it all? Perhaps she would find vindication in Marika's own fate. Or worse, maybe she would say nothing at all, broken as she was, leaving the Eternal Queen forever guessing what words went unsaid. Of course, she wouldn't speak to Rennala. She couldn't in her current state. She only hoped that Talos could summon the right words and beckon forth the answers Marika dreaded.

''I have business with your queen, ser knight. Stand aside,'' Talos ordered calmly, mustering the aura of command others had so keenly felt around him. Moongrum didn't move, seemingly undaunted. Talos was rather surprised.

''You do not command me, Tarnished. You'd be wise to remember that,'' Moongrum replied stolidly, ''Her majesty, Queen Rennala, is indisposed. Leave.''

''I cannot. You know why I am here. I seek the Great Rune she bears, and I will not leave without it.''

''Typical of you Tarnished. You can't just leave her alone, can you? Has she not endured enough?'' Moongrum growled and raised his sorcerous blade.

''I have the remit of the Lunar Princess herself, ser knight. I do not wish to harm your queen. Her tale has swayed me, and so I seek peace with her.'' That got the knight's attention. He was curious, but no less guarded.

''Lady Ranni? She lives?''

''She does. I have parleyed with her in this endeavour. Her help for my service,'' Talos said, ''Lady Ranni has seen fit to speak with her majesty. You can even accompany me, if you wish it.''

''Have you any proof? Many Tarnished have come here seeking the queen, but none have attempted a ruse such as this,'' Moongrum said suspiciously. This conversation was beginning to drag on for the Carian Knight. By now, his opponent was dead and his watch resumed as normal. But for this Tarnished to mention Lady Ranni and speak of a peaceful meeting with the Queen Rennala was as unusual as it was worrying. Surely, this was a ploy to make him lower his guard.

''I've no proof of my intent, nor of Lady Ranni's cooperation here. But I do have an invitation from her to the Carian Manor,'' Talos presented it to Moongrum, who scrutinised it closely. There, clear as day, was the Glintstone tracery of the Carian royal crest, items only the royals could ever possess.

''I see. And you have met with her, you say.''

''Blaidd, too, if you know him,'' Talos said.

''Hmm...'' Moongrum rumbled within his helm, ''regardless, I cannot simply let you pass. I am Moongrum, last knight of the Carian Royal Family and guardian of Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. I challenge you, Tarnished, to a duel. I will determine your intent in combat.''

''The most honest measure of a person, eh? Very well. I accept, Knight of Caria.'' Talos gripped his blade and unhooked his dagger, holding the greatsword with the point towards Moongrum and the dagger across the larger blade.

Moongrum held his shield up with his sword resting on the top edge of it. For a brief moment, it seemed that the rain became heavier.

Lanya looked between the two. She was exhausted and sore, so she took the opportunity to rest and sat in the doorway out of the rain.

'Talos!' Marika warned, and he felt compelled to look to his left. Moongrum had taken notice as well and turned his gaze. At the second gate leading to another part of the academy, the ground steamed as the rainwater boiled and hissed. Black flames erupted from nothing, a great column of flame the colour of the void flecked with white. A figure came into being, tall and gangly, swaddled in strange pale garments. Details quickly came into view. The being's garb was a patchwork of faces and limbs, and a corpse-pallid face glared at Talos from under a hood of flayed skin. In one hand was a large scythe-like weapon, with the lower half being a coiling skewer. It landed lightly on the flagstones with hardly a sound.

It didn't speak or announce itself, but its intent was clear as it slowly raised one hand and pointed at Talos.

'One of them...' Marika hissed, 'a hunter of gods and taker of their skins. Its vile kind still roam free?'

'It seems interested in me. Or perhaps it can sense you,' Talos replied as he sized up this interloper.

'Whatever the case, Talos, it will not stand to let this creature leave this place alive. I hesitate to command thee, Consort, but I demand thee destroy it!'

Talos found it strange to hear Marika so distressed, but he would save his questions for later. He turned fully towards the Godskin. From the corner of his eye, he saw that Moongrum had done the same, and the rattling of chainmail informed him that Lanya had come to offer her blade, as well.

''Be careful. We don't know what this thing can do,'' Talos muttered to his companion. Lanya nodded.

''Same to you.''

The Godskin was already in motion, its body agile and supernaturally quick. Its scythe lashed out, its curved edge clashing against the flat of the Farron Greatsword, shooting sparks. Talos slid back, his blade erupting with flame before he pushed off with his back foot and sprinted forward. He thrust forward to impale the god-skinner, but its torso elongated and pulled back, then wound around with black fire burning in one hand. Like a serpent, it coiled and sprung towards Talos. He jumped back, his own spell roiling to life in the form of a Lightning Stake as fulminating tendrils crackled along his arm and coalesced in his hand. Talos ducked low and slammed his hand down, bringing a lightning bolt as broad as a tree down from the heavens. It shook the earth and shattered the flagstones, sending chunks of burning stone flying, and the Godskin hissed, pulling back as the lighting lashed at it despite avoiding the worst of it. Talos clicked his tongue in annoyance. If only he were alone, he could bring his more powerful spells to bear. Instead, he had to hold back for the safety of others.

Talos followed through, bringing his hand back up high and sent several more in rapid succession in a trail towards his enemy. Each one was blinding, rattling windows, shaking the sky and cracking the ground. The Godskin proved too nimble as it leapt and dodged, chucking a handful of black fire towards Talos before he could find time to evade.

Moongrum came in, his shield taking the impact and dispersing the flames across its surface. Several small swords made of pure magic hovered above his head, and they shot towards the Godskin like bolts from a crossbow. Several hit their mark, cutting through the flayed skins it wore and sunk shallowly into the flesh beneath.

The Carian Knight pressed the attack, gathering his power into his sword, which erupted into colossal blade of energy that he swept out, cleaving into the towering being. It was a solid hit, but not nearly enough to seriously hurt it. Talos nodded his thanks and lunged, his greatsword aflame as he somersaulted, his blade crashing in from one angle and his dagger from another.

Unbalanced from the previous strike from Moongrum, the Godskin recognised the threat and spun its massive scythe, stirring up a storm of black fire. The Tarnished scored a shallow cut that burned the flesh, but he got caught in the strange flames, his cloak trailing it as he was knocked away onto the rain-slicked ground. Though it was a glancing hit, Talos felt dizzy from the flames, but he shook his head and refocused.

He rolled to his feet and rushed in a joint attack with Moongrum, both coming in from either side. Moongrum blocked one strike, the scythe blade glancing from his shield and he stepped in to thrust under the arm. A blast of flame forced the Carian Knight to roll away. Seeing a gap now that Talos was exchanging blows with the creature, Moongrum took a running leap, dropped his shield and grabbed onto a fistful of the skin robe, where he then plunged his blade deep into the Godskin's back, once, twice, three times, four. Blood sprayed his helm and gauntlet in a thick, grey-red slop, more viscous than any human's.

He was jostled as the Godskin jumped back, then stretched its torso to its serpentine proportions, shooting itself back towards a stone wall, into which Moongrum was slammed hard, knocking the air from his lungs and forced him to let go and fell sitting against the wall. While his shield lay on the ground some meters away, he'd never lost grip of his sword.

Talos' bestial agility gave the Godskin brief pause. It gauged his movements, calculating angles of attack. Sword strikes were followed by swift thrusts and cuts of his dagger, but the pale giant was quick enough to avoid the worst. Its robes of skin were being cut to ribbons, though some strikes managed to leave shallow cuts and punctures on its flesh. Talos thrust forward to drive the Farron Greatsword through his opponent, but it was swiftly countered as its torso stretched once again and strafed to the left.

Black flame blasted Talos from the side, making him stumble. However, the flame was strange in the sensation it delivered. His skin prickled, followed by intense pain that no fire had ever dealt him before. It felt like he was being flayed with flensing knives from beneath the skin, but most alarmingly, he felt a wave of cold wash over him from the inside. His world spun once more and he swore he could feel parts of his very soul being scorched from his being. Was this what Marika was so distressed about? His strength threatened to leave him as he could feel his limbs grow heavier by the second.

A split second after the black flames hit, the inner curve of the scythe blade slammed into Talos' side, pinning his arm to his chest and flung him across the yard where he slammed into the ground limply, breathing hard. His vision blurred and his mouth was bone dry. Distantly, he could hear Marika's voice in his mind, calling out and echoing against the agony that racked him still. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so enfeebled. So many questions bubbled to the surface in the wake of this new pain. Was this how they felled gods? Marika had sounded somewhere between outraged and afraid once she sensed this entity, and perhaps those profane black flames were why. How many gods had been slain and skinned? So many questions, yet no time for answers.

Even as he lay there, he still held his weapons in a white-knuckle grip, determined not to lose them. The Godskin leapt high into the air, crossing the distance between it and Talos, it's weapon arm reared back.

Lanya saw the next strike coming, and with wide eyes and spurred on by a rush of adrenaline, she interposed herself between Talos and the coiling, piercing end of the Godskin's weapon before it could run Talos through. The shield made a bone-jarring clang on impact. The shield held, but her shoulder didn't as with a crack at the same time, her shoulder came out of place under the massive strength behind the blow. She cried out in pain as she was forcefully smashed into the wet ground. Lanya, dizzy with pain and feeling sick as the breath was knocked from her, clutched her dislocated shoulder and groaned.

The Godskin narrowed its sickly pale eyes and methodically raised its arm, the skewer end of its weapon poised to kill the downed woman. It thrust down with blinding speed. The weapon hit something, but not its target. A dark shape intercepted the strike with the sound of metal buckling, then clattering away across the stone.

Talos glared up at the Godskin, his teeth grit and his orange-ringed eyes boring into his foe as blood sheeted down one half of his face. With the helmet gone, the Godskin could see the face of a man with naught but death in mind. The Farron Greatsword came up in a thrust, plunging into the thing's chest, its flames charring the flayed skins from marble white to black. Pushing forward and driving it back, he ducked low and darted for the Godskin's left leg, sinking the curved dagger deep into the meat of its thigh. Blood spurted from the wound and it fell to one knee.

Recovered, Moongrum charged, his blade encased in glinstone magic as the massive form it took appeared again and speared it through the side as even more smaller swords sliced into its shoulder and back. The Godskin reared back in clear pain. Talos stood and took Evelyn from his hip, bone marrow ash crushed in one hand. He pressed the barrel under the Godskin's chin.

Fire erupted, roaring like an over-fuelled kiln as it engulfed the Godskin's body. Talos dashed away, wary of the flames that had sapped him of his strength. Through the black conflagration, he met the pallid killer's eyes. It needn't speak, for there was nothing to be said. Its intent was clear. ''Next time,'' that stone cold stare said. And then it was gone like passing storm. The Farron Greatsword and its paired dagger clattered to the ground.

For a short while, only the sound of rain and panting was heard. Talos turned and crouched next to Lanya. He placed one arm under her back and sat her up. She winced and gasped, her fingers clutching tighter to her battered shoulder.

''That thing,'' Moongrum began as he regained his breath, ''that was one of the Godskins. An Apostle, I believe. I've read of them, but this is the first time I've seen one.''

Talos didn't respond to him, too focused on his companion. He unbuckled her gauntlet and removed it, then with the chainmail around her arm loosened, he worked his hand up to her shoulder. With some light presses and gentle manipulation of her shoulder, much to her chagrin given her hissing and swearing at him, he determined that her shoulder had been dislocated. He couldn't use a Miracle for this. Open wounds and broken bones were fine, but dislocations were slightly more complicated. It was of little consequence, however. He just needed to pop the joint back in then use a Miracle.

''This will hurt,'' Talos warned.

''Eh... wh-what will?'' Lanya said through gritted teeth. Instead of replying, Talos sat her up and with a without warning, he rotated her arm and pushed her shoulder inward, where it re-socketed with a dull pop. She yelped, and without thinking, brought a hand around and punched him in the side of the head. He breathed steadily through his nose, ignoring the renewed sting it had brought to his head wound. He had it coming, he supposed.

He rapidly cast a basic Heal Miracle, soothing Lanya's pain and gently fixing the internal damage to her shoulder. He then cast in on himself, closing the gash on his head. Lanya rolled her shoulder, then as she felt braver, rotated it fully.

''Gods...,'' she said as she stared at her healed shoulder disbelievingly, ''good as new.'' She looked up at Talos sheepishly. ''Uh, cheers for that. And, um... sorry for hittin' ya' an' all.''

''No, no, I deserved that one.'' In King Allant's wars against the Demons, such injuries were common amongst the soldiers. Those creatures were usually far bigger and heavier than humans, and on the few occasions that they weren't, they were still brutally strong. To battle them with a shield would save your life in many cases, but dislocated shoulders and broken arms were the norm. Talos could personally attest to that.

He helped Lanya stand, then moved away to recover his helmet. He found it in a small patch of grass that had swallowed the stonework, and when he picked it up, what he held was a ruined, semi-flattened hunk of scrap. The visor had flown free to who-knew-where as the left side of the helmet had been caved in. Talos tossed it aside with a sigh. He liked that helmet. Walking back towards Moongrum, he spoke.

''What was that?''

Moongrum had yet to sheath his sword. ''A Godskin Apostle if memory serves. They hunted the Demigods of old, skinning them and adorning themselves in the harvested hides. From the texts I have read, they serve a mysterious master. But who, I do not know.''

''Seemed interested in you, Talos,'' Lanya added. Moongrum hummed and nodded.

''Indeed. Perhaps there's yet more to you that I thought,'' the Carian Knight said, his tone even. His true thoughts on the matter were for him to know, and he made sure of that.

''It would be logical to assume I'll be seeing it again. It surprised me this time, but it wasted its chance,'' Talos said. He turned to Moongrum, ''I thank you for your assistance. Your skills with both blade and sorcery are admirable.''

''Save your thanks. You are still an intruder here, and as my queen's guardian, I must still bar your way. But...'' Moongrum paused, ''had you wanted to, you could have run. Or used the distraction to kill me. I imagine you could do that as we speak. I saw you use that lightning. You're clearly not lacking in power of your own.''

Lanya glowered in frustration at the Carian Knight. ''We just got rid of that thing! You said it ya'self, we coulda' left you on your own, but we didn't. What 'appened to judgin' our intent through combat?''

''It was to be determined in a duel, girl. There was no duel. Now, let us finish what we-''

''This stall hath endured long enough,'' a cold voice carried across the yard, stopping Moongrum in his tracks. A pale mist rolled in and on a plinth where a statue had been destroyed, the small form of Ranni the Witch appeared as if assembled by the frosted air. She sat with the same regal poise as she always did, her four hands steepled.

''Lady... Lady Ranni...'' Moongrum dropped to one knee and lowered his head, ''it is a great relief to see you alive.''

As cold as she was, the Lunar Princess bestowed a gentle smile unto the loyal Carian Knight. She looked over at Talos and Lanya, the duo looking like a pair of drowned rats after their ordeal. She took particular note of Talos' face. He reminded her of Godfrey. They were both rugged with faces lined with age and the rigours of their lives. However, she remembered the First Elden Lord looking considerably more vigorous, where Talos looked worn out, like a man persisting through sheer willpower alone. It was his eyes. They were quite telling. Strange as they were, the pupils ringed with orange that smouldered like dying embers, they lacked lustre, dull like cloudy glass. In short, he looked old and exhausted.

'''Tis good to see thee, Sir Moongrum. But we mustn't tarry with pleasantries. Though hast stood sentinel for ages in excess. Thy loyalty is exemplary, but I bid thee to let them pass. I will be with them to see my mother,'' the Empyrean said, ''you may rise.''

''Are you sure, my lady? I only ask out of concern, you understand,'' Moongrum said. Gone was the voice of a fierce guardian, replaced by that of a relieved uncle.

''Need I refer to thee as Uncle Grum in polite company?'' Ranni asked with a rare note of levity, ''no harm will come to mother. Prithee, rest a while. We will return soon.''

Ranni vanished in her usual fashion, leaving the three alone.

''The lift I guard. Take that and it will lead you to the queen,'' Moongrum said. As a sign of his acceptance, he sheathed his sword and gestured to the lift beyond the large doorway arch. They took the lift up and exited it, seeing a smaller vestibule and the great doors to the Grand Library. Exchanging a nod with Lanya, Talos braced his hands on the doors and pushed. Dust fell from the top of the doorway as ancient hinges shrieked and groaned in protest, followed by the grinding of wood on stone.

Up ahead, they saw a long walkway flanked by bookshelves filled with countless tomes. In the centre of the room was the large figure of Queen Rennala. She sat cradling an egg-shaped hunk of amber in her arms, while she was swaddled in the dark blue robes of the academy scholars. She wore a strange hat, with it being tall and curved towards the end. By her side was the Lunar Princess, watching Talos and Lanya as they entered. The floor was littered with small mountains of books, and amongst them were people. Or at least, they seemed to be people. They each had identical faces, like those of young girls, and they all wore black variants of their mothers scholarly garment. Strangely, none of them stood. They each crawled on the ground.

When they saw Talos approaching with Lanya close behind, they bared their teeth, hissing and whimpering as they backed away like frightened animals. He made eye contact with one of them and she froze as if caught in the sights of an apex predator. Then she scurried away, toppling small stacks of books and clambering over the others to get away.

They came to a halt by Ranni, who'd found a rather convenient stack to sit upon. He couldn't see her face through the brim of her immense hat. The Lunar Princess turned her gaze towards the Queen of the Full Moon.

''Mother? Thy guests hath arrived.''

---

I apologise for taking so long with this one, and I doubly apologise for the cliffhanger. This chapter was getting just a little too long.

Quick little things:

Raya Lucaria anti-air glinstone spells: Just a fun addition I added. I felt that since the academy has defences on the ground, they would be stupid not to have ones for aerial threats. Plus, since they should know dragons are a thing and are in Liurnia, it makes sense to me that they'd have something for that.

Talos' near rant about the gods: Man's fucked up after everything he's been through, especially Bloodborne. It'll be a consistent theme and something other people later on will help him with.

Moongrum: Took some creative liberties with his history within the world. While writing him in this chapter, I couldn't help but want to make Moongrum into Chadgrum. He'll show up in later chapters, so for all... two(?) of his fans out there, your boy's got you.

Godskin Apostle: Talos is basically a godlike entity, and being united with Marika doesn't help with the Godskin's god-skinning habit. As the story goes on, I intend to have the Lands Between become a much more hostile place as the Greater Will seeks to defend itself against Talos. The Apostle showing up is only the first expression of this happening.

Talos' spells/miracles/pyromancies: In game terms, Talos' stats are maxed out several times over, so he can do whatever he wants. In-universe, he's old enough and experienced enough to have had plenty of time to mess around with his these abilities to mess around and create his own stuff or just change them a bit. It also means that he's developed past the use of catalysts/staffs, pyro flames, talismans etc. He can just say 'random bullshit go' and it goes. I must stress that he could do this, but he tends not to. But don't worry, more spell combos or altered spells will come.

Next chapter: Rennala, parting from Lanya, Marika explores some of Talos' memories, meeting Sellen.

If you enjoyed this chapter and the story so far, feel free to fav, follow and review. It's all appreciated. Until next time.