I HAVE RETURNED!

Hope you guys are ready for another epic chapter in this little ol story if mine because I got a few surprises waiting in this chapter.

Before you read, I want to point out a quick little note that I took to heart from you guys.

Many of you guys have asked for me to take the story a bit further off the main plot line than it is not as it is felt that thing are more or less, goin on the lines of a second play through of dark souls to a degree. So I though "Hmm, you know what, why the hell shouldn't I take things a bit further than where they're head."

Obviously, I can't say now before you read what I've done, but just know that the stakes in this story are about to hit a hole new degree. And that I have put creating a backstory for the prophet at the top of my list of things to do for this fic. (Right alongside trying to figure out what I'm going to do about Priscilla.)

Anyways, lets knock out a few comments that caught my eye.

Hitler's Moustache- Also I read this story because after 8 years I still have not read a single fanfiction where the chosen undead rubs Priscilla's tail. so I saw the description and was like "Holy shit we got some fluffy tail fondling? I'm in." but the guy hasn't even rang the second bell yet.

My response- I'm working on it, I swear. I believe this chapter may provide a good path for the prophet to reach Priscilla. You'll see what I mean when you read, but this is only a possibility right now.

Guest- Ever thought about giving our prophet a familiar. I know that term sounds weird but to my understanding it means magic pet or servant. Maybe Velka can give him a crow for a companion. Said crow could be helpful like seeing through it's eyes like how Bran Stark did in Game of Thrones. Or maybe he can pick up some other creature, though I'd personally go with the crow though maybe a magic size changing crow so it can grow big enough for him and the others to ride on. Just an idea that I though I should voice.

My Response- Oh, don't worry. I have a few idea's regarding having a awesome familiar type companion to travel along side the prophet. There's plety that I got cho choose from like a mushroom man, one of the great felines in the darkroot forest, Snuggly the crow (How awesome would it be to have snuggly in the prophets satchel for item.) The list goes on and on, bro. But I will get to it.

Alright, with that out of the way, I hope yo guys enjoy the read.

Soaring high in the sky's of Lordran, a certain goddess found herself smiling cheerfully as she recalled her words to a certain human who never ceases to amaze her.

"Yes, yes, yes! Assert your dominance and show a man who's in charge, that's the way to go. I should have just done this from the start. It would have surely saved me quite the bit of time dealing with his stubbornness." Velka said gleefully to herself, clearly pleased with herself at how she declared her intent and forced him to comply with her demands. "I should prepare things for our little get together quickly so there will be no need too wait. Heh, heh, leave that man alone for a few minutes and he'll probably find another dragon to fight or something."

As she flew over the large walls of the golden city of Anor Londo, her mind absolutely buzzing with idea's for what she would do once she was alone with the defiant little human, a feeling reminiscent of a small ringing in the back of her mind suddenly went through her. Not long ago, she would have regarded this calling with a sense of reverence, but now it only seemed to cause a slight nervous shiver to crawl up her spin.

"I'm being summoned?" Velka thought to herself as her mind turned towards what could be a problem. "But for what purpose?"

Not wasting a single second more to question the matter, the goddess traveled over the large city structures and headed straight to where she knew her lord would be waiting. Walking through a large, wide open room leading to a stairway that lead downward, she was suddenly overcome with a sudden feeling of unease.

"Be calm. There is nothing to fear. I must simply explain the situation carefully and everything will fall into place." Velka said trying to reassure herself as she walked down the stairway, eventually coming upon a somewhat imposing figure standing on a large mound of snakes.

Moving forward, she stood in the center of the small square carpet with four candles at each corner and kneeled towards the entrance of the room where the figure stood beyond.

"My lord." Velka said as calmly as she could. "I answer thy summons."

The figure did not move from its position in the slightest, but, if one were to focus, they would likely notice that many of the snakes at the figures lower body held a firm gaze toward her as they slithered back and forth in place.

"This is the second time I have noticed thin presence return to Anor Londo." the figure said, its voice echoing off through the large halls. "I assume thou hath come into contact with the undead."

"I have, my lord." Velka said

"And what does thou make of him?" the figure asked. "Can he be used?...or he just like the rest?"

At this, Velka hesitated for a moment. Knowing exactly what the answer to that question would be, but not willing to allow it to escape her lips.

"My lord, there...may be a problem regarding the newly arrived undead." Velka said, causing more of the snakes to turn towards her.

"A problem?" the figure said calmly, but with a noticeable amount of curiosity.

"The human...already knew of my arrival and of my identity. As well as the existence of the First Flame and our plan to use him to fuel it." the goddess explained.

At this, the figure visibly stiffened. Though it still did not turn to face towards the goddess.

"He already held knowledge of the First? Impossible." the figure said in a somewhat cold tone. "How would a human gain knowledge of something only mineself and a scant few of number know exist?"

"He...claims to be a prophet from a land unknown to us called Demacia, my lord." Velka explained.

"A prophet?" the figure questioned.

"Yes. And after gaining his trust and watching his actions closely, I believe that his foresight is indeed genuine." Velka said calmly. "With this in mind, I believe that he would be a great asset to the cause and request that I be allowed to conscript him, my lord."

Now that certainly caught the figures attention. Velka, one of the most powerful, unbending and uncompromising of their kind, not only found a human who knew of the First Flame and left him alive. But is now recommending that they allow him to join them?

Letting this thought run through its mind for a brief moment, the figure lowered itself to the ground slightly, the snakes at its feet seeming to elongate across the floor as it got lower, eyeing the kneeling goddess menacingly.

"Curious." the figure said ominously. "How were thou able to gain the humans trust with him knowing thine true intentions?"

At this, Velka's body tensed ever so slightly. She did not turn her gaze towards the snakes piercing gaze, but she hear the suspicion that laced her lords voice. But it only took her a moment to regain her tranquil state. She would not be bested by panic this day.

"Though he was initially cautions and heedful of my actions, he eventually let his guard down around me. Allowing me to get close and gain the knowledge that I needed." Velka said, knowing that going into detail about her relationship with the prophet would be the worst mistake she could make. "I am not without my wilds, my lord."

At this, the figure slowly edged its way towards her, with its snakes giving a slight hiss, and towered over her kneeling body. She did not look upward to see, but at that moment the figure was currently examining her closely, feeling as if something had changed. She no longer held the air of misery around her, her voice was no longer stoic and full of despair. In fact, she seemed almost like she was a different person entirely. What could have happened to change her demeanor in such a way?

The figure let the silence settle firmly between them. Saying nothing as Velka felt almost as if she was suffocating under its presence. Then, in one smooth motion, it turned away from her and placed itself back in its original position with its back turned towards her.

"I see..." the figure said, keeping its gaze frozen forward in front of it. "But there is still the concerning matter of the bells. Thou believes that the human is aware of the situation and yet still the sound of the bell rang true. For what purpose would he continue to seek them if he knows of their true purpose?"

Velka hesitated a moment before responding to this line of questioning.

"He claims to have a plan to end the Undead Curse permanently, my lord. " Velka said. "Though I do not know the details, I believe that ringing both bells and retrieving the Lordvessel may be a part of it. I could determine no other reason behind his ringing them."

At this, the figure gave a slight pause before responding in almost annoyed tone.

"First the human knows of the First Flame and now he holds a plan to end the curse of the undead? Foolishness. What could a mortal possibly know of that hasn't been attempted already?" the figure said in a dismissing tone, before giving another pause to think of what it had just been told. "But still...you believe this undeads knowledge could be of great use to the cause? That is your judgement of him?"

"Yes, my lord." Velka responded. "I assure you, he is worth our time."

"Are thou aware of his current location.?" the figure asked.

"Yes, my lord." Velka responded. "He carries with him a Book of the Guilty, which I oversee. Even now the books magic call out to me. Keeping track of him would be a simple matter."

There was another drawn out pause of silence between them as the figure thought through what its next action would be.

"Very good. Then we need not waste any time. Thou are to bring this undead unto me." the figure spoke finally, causing the goddess to go wide eyed. "Gather a number of the Bat Wing Demons. They will aid you in his retrieval."

Velka felt her heart drop at this.

"B-Bring him here?" the goddess stuttered. "May I ask why, my lord. If he intends to follow the path we set for him, would it not be wise to allow him to continue unhindered? He would reach Anor Londo on his own in time."

"Thou sayeth he is aware to the current situation of the world and that he has knows of the First Flame. Having a human roam free with knowledge such as that is something that cannot be allowed." the figure explained. "If we allow him to remain free then there is a chance he would inform others and put everything that we have worked for in jeopardy. We must end this problem before it truly even begins."

"My lord, I do not believe that-"

"Enough." the figure interrupted calmly. "Thou has thy mission. Go now and see that it is done."

The Goddess bit her lip at this. Wanting to say something to sway her superiors judgment, but knowing not what more could be said.

"Understood, my lord." Velka said as she stood on her feet and turned on her heel.

Walking free of the building, the goddess face fell to the ground in deep thought as a look of concern came across her lips. While she did truly mean for the prophet to join her, she knew that a meeting between her lord and himself would likely end in disaster. But now it was out of her hands.

She would carry out the commands given to her, no matter how she felt about it.

Undead Burg

For the three warriors, fighting through the throng of hollows that infested the town was child's play. They were barley even putting up an effort as they cut down one hollow after another, quickly making their way through to the bridge where the Taurus demon originally resided and finding the door that the prophet spoke of.

All three warriors stood unmoving in front of the entrance. Each one having something on their mind.

Oscar was the first to speak his thoughts.

"Solaire, Siegmeyer, tell me...what do you two think of all of this?" Oscar said. "Of everything that the prophet has told us."

"About the gods and how our fate is tied to their choices?" Solaire said, speaking plainly. "Quite honestly, I don't know. I feel as though I have yet to fully come terms with it just yet."

"As have I." Siegmeyer added. "Ancient evils, traveling to the past...how does one even react to all this?"

'I'm not sure. I know that I should feel angry and betrayed about this, and initially I was. But the more I contemplate things, the more I actually pity the gods." Solaire said.

"Pity? They don't deserve any sort of pity for what they've done." Oscar said in a mild outrage. "Look at all the destruction and chaos they've brought upon us."

"I understand your anger, Oscar, and I am no more pleased with the state of things than you are, but we must remember that they did not have someone like the prophet among them like we do. They did not have all the answers." Solaire said. "Everything that they've done, every choice that they've made had the interest of protecting the world in mind. Can we truly fault them for their efforts?"

"So your saying that we should just chalk the utter downfall of the world as one big mistake? That we should just forgive and forget?" Oscar said in an almost accusing tone.

"I'm saying that though they have failed, they're intentions were pure." Solaire responded calmly. "You heard the prophet, they had no idea the effects their actions would have."

It was at this moment the Siegmeyer chimed in with an interesting question.

"Speaking of which, how does the prophet feel about the gods decisions throughout all of this?" Siegmeyer asked. "He's the one who knew it all from the beginning and yet doesn't seem angry or empathetic or...anything. Where does he play into all of this? What exactly does he plan to do?"

"You do not believe that his actions are for the benefit of us all?" Oscar asked.

"Do not misunderstand. I do trust that he means well, there are things that man was not meant to know for a reason." Siegmeyer explained. " Knowing one to many secrets can drive a man to do horrible things. The prophet must be wary to use his knowledge for good, lest he fall prey to darkness."

"I will not allow something like that to happen." Oscar said. "The prophet is as close to me as a brother and I will stand at his side no matter the obstacle. No enemy shall topple him so long as I stand."

"It is mans own mind, not enemy or foe, that lure him to evil ways, Oscar." Solaire said coming between the two warriors. "The prophet must not only focus on the enemies in front of him, but to also the enemy inside of himself if he wishes to stay on the path of righteousness."

"Stay on the path of righteousness?" Oscar asked. "You sound as if you think the prophet may turn on us?"

"I think the prophet is a strong warrior and will only grow stronger as we continue our journey, but he is still young and has much to yet experience. And this world can indeed be a cold and bloody place." Solaire said. "It falls to us to make sure that in attempting to destroy the monsters of the dark, the prophet does not give into his inner demons and inadvertently become one of them."

At hearing this, Oscar turned his gaze away from his two companions as a single thought crossed his mind.

"When one gazes long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you." Oscar thought to himself ominously.

All of them let that sit between them for a moment. The thought of the prophet, the carefree and jovial companion that they've all come to know, would ever turn to something of a much sinister origin was a troubling thought.

"That will not happen." Oscar said, trying to shake the thoughts from his mind. "And we do nothing but waste time standing here. Let us move forward."

With that, they all moved forward without another word as Oscar used the key he was given and unlocked the path before them. Leading the way to what would take them to new foes, dangers and revelations.

A Great Deal of Time Earlier...

You never really know who a person truly is until they're about to reach their end. When they come across an obstacle so large, so beyond their ability, that they know they have no chance of defeating it.

I once believed that I was a man of honor. That I would stand by my convictions no matter the foe. But when I came to a point that I had to make a choice, when my dear friends need of me was the most dire...I discovered that I was only deceiving myself.

"AAAAAAAAHHH!"

Nico's cries still echo through my mind. I saw the suffering in his eye's as his flesh was incinerated down to the bone, how his final moment were filled with nothing but agony...and it terrified me.

It was then that I heard Reah call for me.

"VINCE, HELP US!" she pleaded.

We were separated. They both stood on the other side of that masked creature. She was on her knee's attempting to heal Nico's burned flesh. I froze, not knowing what I was supposed to do next.

Then I heard something behind me. Grunts of exertion. Turning around, I saw that Petrus was climbing some sort of makeshift ladder along the wall, fleeing to safety away from the creature, not even giving a second glance to see what was befalling the rest of us.

I turned back to Reah, her pleading eye's boring into mine, and then I looked at the ladder, a path to safety that would ensure my survival.

And I then ran.

I ran with all my strength towards the ladder. The fear and disbelief that must have been in Reah's heart must have drowned out any attempt to scream she wanted to make. I did not look back. I did not want to see the look in her eye's as she perished. What was I supposed to do? There was no merit in dying along side them.

As I climb the ladder and my eye's fell upon darkness, the only thing I can think through my fear was that I need find Petrus. He would know what we must do next. He must.

There was a trail of bright lights along the ground. Having no other choice, I decided to follow its path.

"P-Petrus? Petrus?" I called out fearfully as I moved through the darkness at a moderate pace. "W-Wait. I'm still alive. Don't leave."

After following them for a few minutes, the lights lead me to some sort of large coffin that served as a bridge to cross a gap. I hadn't heard any footsteps or sounds at all from ahead, but I knew I had to cross it. I had to reach Petrus. He was my only chance now.

Going across, I came upon another large coffin and soon enough I heard what sounded like a heavy foot step a small ways ahead of me.

"Petrus? I-Is that you?" I said aloud.

Suddenly, the footstep changed into a full on run in my direction. The moment I saw two glowing wisp of blue light running towards me, I knew that I had made a terrible mistake in announcing my presence.

The large skeletal creature was on me in a few bounds of its large feet. The second I saw its horrifying visage through the dark, I raised my shield high. Immediately as I did so, its swung its colossal curved sword at me. The steel of my shield took the full force of the blow, but even still I was knocked on my back as a sudden dullness shot through my arm and a loud crack echoed through the darkness around me.

I scream loudly as my body hits the ground. The pain that radiated through my arm was sharp and intense. As blood trailed down my arm, I saw that the blade had left a clean cut straight through the steel of my shield and cutting into my arm. I had no hope of raising it once again without suffering massive pain after an attack like that.

It seemed almost unthinkable. With that one blow, I was all but incapacitated and it seemed that my nightmare did not end there.

Whether it was due to the darkness that surrounded us or its knowledge that it had disabled me almost entirely with a single blow, the creature chose to steadily creep towards me with its blade rather than end things swiftly.

With the beast slowly making its way closer to me, the cold, soul crushing fear I felt before returned to haunt me.

"N-No...I...have to get away..." I thought as the skeletal giant grew ever closer my fear growing with each step. "M-My body won't move...This is terrifying...I-Its awful..how we human beings...can't move a muscle when we're afraid..."

As the creatures haunting glowing sockets stared down at me unflinchingly, my breath grew heavier and heavier and my eye's rimmed with tears. I was literally so afraid that I was frozen on the spot. There was only one pitiful, futile thing I could think to do next.

"H...HEL-...HEEEELP! SOMEONE! SOMEONE PLEASE SAVE MEEEE!" I screamed and pleaded with all my might, not knowing what else I could do. The thought of dying to this creature sapped away my will to even raise my mace. So as I shut my eye's tightly and I screamed. "I BEG YOU! SOMEBODY HEEELP! PLEASE GODS, I...I DON'T WANT TO DIE! PLEASE, I BEG YOU, HELP MEEE!"

But as my screams echoed around me and the skeleton raised its blade, I realized that no great force would come to my aid. No one cared about my plea's. No savior was coming.

Death.

That's all I would receive. Right here, right now.

"No one will save me...from this fate...?" I thought as the tears streamed down my cheeks, with the only thing running through my mind was that this must have been how Reah felt when he left her. Desperate, hopeless, praying for some sort of miracle.

Only now, at the very end, did I finally understand what it means to be lost in the purest darkness, pleading for some sort of light.

Any light...no matter how faint or how small.

If only I had a light. I'd have...

"RAAAAAAHHH" a mans voice suddenly shouted out from the darkness.

...hope.

BOOSH!

Suddenly a bright flash exploded directly in front of the skeletons body, sending it flying backwards into the darkness and out of sight. Letting my eye's adjust once again to the shadows, I could only gape in disbelief at who was standing in front of me.

"You.." was the only word I could bring forth.

"REAH, HURRY! TAKE HIM AND GET BACK TO THE LIGHT!" the mans voice screamed through the darkness.

"But what of you?" a much more familiar feminine voice called out.

Not even a second later, the skeletons large curved sword struck out from the shadows. Thinking quickly, the prophet ducked his head low, very narrowly avoiding decapitation.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME! JUST GO!" the man said before igniting two fireball in his hand and running headfirst into the darkness to confront the beast. Not two seconds later did flashes of explosions illuminate them both for the briefest of seconds, the man wearing a look of anger and determination and the creature towering over him menacingly.

What sounded like footsteps suddenly approached me from my side and through the shadows stood a woman I could not help but recognize.

"Can you stand?" the woman asked.

"R-Reah?" I said in shock. "How are you-?"

"Vince, we have no time for this. Can you stand?" Reah said urgently.

"Y-Yes, I can"

"Then follow me quickly. We must not remain here."

Doing as she asked, I got to my feet and clutched my wounded arm with the other, then proceeded to follow her back across the fallen coffin. The sounds of battle between the prophet and the skeleton giant growing fainter and fainter with each step we took.

By the time we reach the entrance of the Masked creatures lair, we were both out of breath.

"T-Thank you for...saving me, Reah." I said, trying to get out what sounded like gratitude.

There was a pause of silence between us for some time before she chose to speak to me.

"It was not by my strength that I was able to reach you...it was the prophets." Reah said lowly, not even turning to face me. After a moment more, she began Walking forward, keeping her eye's low as she retrieved her Ivory Talisman and healed my arm with a miracle. She then pointed a finger towards a small narrow pathway along the edge of the masked creatures domain. "He informed me before we went after you that that is the way to leave this place and that if the worst were to happen, that we should leave without him."

I look at the pathway with new hope.

"Then we should not waste any time." I said quickly and hastily. "Lets go."

At this, Reah turned her gaze back towards the shadow darkness from which we had just escaped. Pausing only a moment before she began to walk back towards it.

"I will not." Reah said simply as she walked forward towards the darkness.

"W-Wait, what are you-? STOP!" I said, running to her side and grabbing her arm to halt her advance. "What are you doing? You can't go back in there."

"The prophet has risked his life to help us. I will not leave him behind to die." Reah said with an odd mix of fear and resoluteness.

"Reah, you don't understand at all. That man is probably already dead." I said in a small panic, trying to make her see reason. "The creature is far to strong for any of us to hope to defeat. It shattered my arm in a single blow, mere pyromancy will not be enough to avail him. The only thing he can hope to do is stall it to buy us time. This is our only chance to escape."

"I understand...but I cannot abandon him." Reah said, averting her eyes from he once close friend and snatching her arm away from him.

"Did you listen to what I said?! Do you not see the picture here?!" I said, nearly on the verge of shouting. "I'm telling you that we can survive if you just come with me! How can you help anyone by throwing yourself at a monster whose strength is beyond you?! You'll only die along side him!"

At this, Reah's jaw clenched and a dangerous look suddenly came over her eye's.

"Even so, even if I perish in the attempt, I would not be able to live with myself knowing that I could have saved a life and instead chose to run away." Reah said defiantly. "You may choose to leave if you wish...but I must walk a different path."

With that, we both stood eyeing on another. Mine holding the look of vexation, hers the look of opposition. It was clear that she was afraid of returning, so for what purpose does she persist?

"Reah, this is foolishne-"

KABOOOSH

Suddenly, what sounded like thunder striking the earth reverberated throughout the underground cavern. Causing both Reah and myself to turn toward the darkness with wide eye's as a flash of light had erupted not far from them. But what held both of their attention even after it had died down, was that the light did not seem normal. From where they stood, it appeared as though the normal orange glow normally produced by light was absent, instead it appeared as though it was created of a sort of black twilight

Then, all was silent. Both Reah and I stood stock still for quite some time, our eye's never shifted away from the shadows. Nothing was heard in the distance and eventually I was the one to break the silence between us.

"W-What in Gwyn's name was that?" I asked, the fear written all over my face.

As if in response, a steady rhythm of footsteps could be heard coming towards our direction. Both Reah and I stood frozen in place as the sound grew closer and closer. Once the footstep were directly in front of us, we could both hear what sounded like heavy breathing.

Once the figure stepped into the light, I stood in stupefied disbelief as the prophet emerged from the shadows. His flesh was burned to a fair degree and he carried what looked to be the skeletons large curved sword hefted onto his shoulder. As they both looked on further, they could clearly see a long trail of red across his chest and that the flesh on his hands were especially burned.

"...This place...can kiss my ass...had to go all out just to kill one of those things." the prophet said through heavy breaths and the pain that coursed throughout his body. "But at least I got one of the best DEX build weapons out of this. Though it is going to take some time to get used to the extra weight."

I stood in shocked awe and disbelief at what was in front of me.

"By the gods...how is he even standing?" I thought to myself.

"Prophet!" Reah said with a smile on her face. "You survived!

"Just barely." the prophet said as he retrieved his Estus Flask from his satchel to heal his wounds.

"Save your Estus." Reah said as she walked forward with her talisman in hand. "I will heal your wounds."

"Heal me? How are you gonna-" was all the prophet said before Reah placed the Talisman against his chest and closed her eye's, whispering a small prayer. Not a moment later did a glow emanate around them both. It took only a few seconds more before the prophets body was more or less, completely healed. "Whoa. Healing others with miracles? Now that's definitely something that would come in handy."

"What do mean?" Reah asked with a little confusion.

"Its nothing. I just think I might have thought of a way for you to pay me back for coming down here." the prophet said with a friendly smile. "But we can talk about that later. Right now, lets just focus on getting the hell out of-"

"Wait, hold on a minute! How did you-? It should have been impossible to-?" I started but finding myself unable to get out the words that I sought. "How is it that you were able to survive? What happened to that monster with the three mask?"

"The prophet defeated it." Reah explained simply. "He came to my rescue and defeated that creature alone. I had not thought it possible, but he is truly a warrior worthy of recognition."

Though I was still in shock of what Reah had just spoken to me and what I had seen so far of the prophet, I could not help but ask a single question.

"A-And...what of Nico?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Reah's gaze somewhat saddened at this.

"Nico...did not survive the encounter." Reah said sadly. "But we have no time to mourn him here. We must make our way back to safety."

Hearing her confirm my thoughts brought a heavy weight onto my heart. With my actions, it felt almost as if I was the one to execute Nico myself. But then another sharp thought crossed my mind that drown out any other.

"Wait. You told us before that that creature guarded the Rite...and you defeated it? Does that mean you have it then? " Vince said in an almost demanding manner. "Is the Rite of Kindling with you?"

The Prophet, feeling as if he knew where this conversation would lead, gazed at the fallen Cleric with a look of disapproval.

"Reah, get behind me for a sec." the prophet said.

"What? Why?" Reah asked in confusion.

"DO YOU HAVE IT?!" Vince suddenly shouted as he raised his mace towards the prophet, startling Reah, but receiving no physical response from the prophet.

Kaylen paused only for a moment before responding calmly.

"Yes. I have it with me." the prophet responded seriously, keeping his eye's locked on Vince's. "But I'm sorry to say that I can't-"

"You will relinquish it to me now." Vince commanded. "I will take it to the leaders of the church. They will know how to use its powers to its fullest."

If the situation were not so delicate, the prophet might have laughed at that. The church knowing what to do with the Rite? He'd sooner believe that the Mushroom Men were planning to invade than the church even having a clue of how to use the Rite of Kindling.

"Sorry Vince, but there's no way I'm doing that. There's a certain woman who needs this a hell of a lot more than you do." the prophet said in an unmoved tone, remembering that the Rite was the only thing that could cure the daughter of Chao of the blight puss that plagued her body. "Besides, you're too weak to even think of carrying this thing around."

"Weak? You dare speak to me of strength?" Vince said, his gratitude towards the man quickly being over taken by rage. "I have lost everything to this curse. My home, my family, my loved ones. All of my life was ripped away from me and that Rite is my only chance to take it all back. What makes you think you have any right to stand in my way? What makes you think that I am any less worthy to have it than you are?"

The prophet stood with his gaze as hard as stone as he replied in a cold tone.

"Why are you less worthy? That's simple." the prophet said. "Its because you're completely incapable of believing in yourself. When danger comes, you cry out and scream for others to save you instead fighting back. You left your friends to die and chose to ensure your own survival above all else. You never grew beyond wanting to return back to Thorolund."

"What wrong with that?! I only wanted to return to the way things used to be. I wanted to see my home once more!" Vince said defiantly, the look of anger written all over his face at this point as the grip on his mace increased. "I never asked for any of this! What wrong with wanting to return home?! What's wrong with wanting to see those I hold dear?!"

The prophet, trying his best to keep things from escalating, chose only to hold a stern gaze upon the cleric. But this only caused Vince's anger to increase even further.

"Look, Vince. I hate to tell you this, but this conversation doesn't even matter. Even if I did give you the Rite and showed you the way out, its obvious the church wouldn't allow you to return." the prophet said in a calm tone causing Vince's eye's to widen slightly. "You can't believe that they'd just welcome you with open arms can you? They sent you here to be killed for some made up cause they know you'd never be able to accomplish. That small hope of returning that they gave you was never possible of happening. It was just method of keeping you away."

"YOU LIE! You just want to keep it for yourself, don't you!" the cleric accused with newfound fear in his eye's. "So you can unlock all it secrets and gain its power, that's right. And so you can protect that filthy Fire keeper."

At this, the prophets eye's grew with surprise before closing in deep seated anger.

"You shut your damn mouth." the prophet growled angrily, not knowing that his eye's briefly held an ominous yellow glow. His rage was so great at this, that Vince unconsciously took a single step backwards out of fear. "You have no idea what misery she's had to experience, so don't you dare think of bringing her into this. You need to accept that no matter what you do, Thorolund and the church will never take you back."

Staring into his eye's, Vince felt all the fight drain out of his body. The idea that the one thing he sought was never possible of happening, devastated his heart.

"No." Vince said as he fell to his knee's and his gaze fell to the ground. It was easy to tell from the low whimpering's he gave off that he was crying. "They swore to us. They told us that if we kept our faith, that the gods would show us mercy. So was that all a lie? A trick?"

"Vince..." Reah said lowly as the sight of her friends hopelessness put her on the verge of tears. Quickly she moved to his side and kneeled next to him. Though she knew not what could be said to help him.

"That hope was all I had left, what am I supposed to believe in now?" Vince asked the prophet in his despair. "What am I...What am I supposed to fight for now? W-..Where do I go from here? Tell me...please.."

The prophet walked forward and until he was directly in front of both Vince and Reah's kneeling forms. Not willing to go easy on him, the prophet spoke the only thing he could think to say at that moment.

He told him the truth.

"I can't tell you that, Vince." the prophet said in a low tone, not wanting to crush him further, but unwilling to offer him pretty lies or tell him that things will be easy from here on. "You going have to figure that out on your own."

There was nothing but deafening silence between them, until Vince decided speak once more in a tone void of any hope.

"...Kill me..." the cleric said.

At this the prophets eye's widened in surprise,, before darkening further with anger. Reah immediately came to her friends side, trying to comfort him in whatever way she could.

"What? No!" Reah pleaded with him. "You can't just give up. You have to move forward."

"...There's nothing left now...no reason for me to keep going...kill me..." Vince repeated once more to the prophet.

"Vince...your truly are pathetic." the prophet said coldly.

"Prophet?" Reah said in confusion as she turned towards her would be savior.

"I used to think you were one of the more respectable warriors in Lordran." the prophet said. "I can't believe your willing to just...surrender your life so easily."

At this, Reah grew a bit in anger.

"Prophet, stop this! Don't you think you've said enough?!" Reah said, defending her former companion. "You have no idea how much Vince has sacrificed for the sake of Thorolund. Going back was the only thing he could hope for."

The prophet gaze hardened at her words.

"So what?" the prophet said. "You want a hug?"

"PROPHET!" Reah shouted angrily.

"Your only acting this way out of humiliation. Don't you think your just giving them exactly what they want?" the prophet said in an irritated tone. "At least your better off than the rest of us."

At this, the clerics eye's went wide before he look towards the man standing in front of him.

"W-what?" Vince said.

"You think what your going through is bad? Stand up and take a look around you, you coward. I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat if I could." the prophet said in a cold tone. "All those people at my side, everyone whose counting on me, we're all any of us have. Oscar, Solaire, Siegmeyer, Anna, the merchant. With the curse eating away at our very souls, we all know that at any time we could lose who we are. We are all grateful to be able to live even one more day. And you...You got to say goodbye to those you care about, you have the freedom to make a new life and a friend who was willing to overcome her own hopelessness to come after you, even after you left her to die and you have the nerve to want to die? Do you have any idea how insulting that is to any undead whose doing their best to survive in this world?"

The prophet actually felt his irritation rising. Clenching his fist, he continued in a heated tone.

"There are people who would do anything to live even a second more. Who would do nothing but beg their families and friends to stay with them until the very end. And that's all they can do. The church lied to you and forced you away from your family. So what?!" the prophet said aggressively. "You say you've got no reason to live because of that? Compared to what everyone else is going through, I'd be fucking smiling if I were you right now. BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU AT LEAST GOT TO SAY GOODBYE TO THOSE YOU LOVE!"

The prophet was almost shaking with resentment as he thought of how he was forced into the position he was in now, how he didn't have the choice that Vince was so ready to throw away. It was as if the clerics words had stirred up all the hatred and resentment that the prophet kept hidden to himself. He knew he had to stop himself before he somehow ended up doing something out of anger that he might regret later.

So taking a deep breath through his nostrils, but unwilling to let his anger pass, he spoke once more.

"Never...ever...say that kind of crap in front of me again." was all that the prophet said before moving forward, intent on getting out of the Tomb. He didn't look back towards the cleric or the Priestess. There was nothing left for him to say here and he knew that staying any longer would likely end in him giving the Cleric exactly what he asked for.

"W-Wait..." Vince suddenly called out, stopping the prophet in his tracks. "I'm...sorry."

There was silence once again between the two. The prophet let it linger between them, letting his rage slowly ease out of him. Once he had done so, he took another deep breath and spoke once more.

"Maybe I'm not the one you should be apologizing too." the prophet said sternly.

With the hint taken clearly, Vince hesitantly turned towards Reah. Trying his best to look her in the eye, but succeeding only in keeping his gaze turned downward

"R-Reah...I'm-" Vince started.

"Don't. I know you only acted the way you did because you were afraid. I hold no resentment towards you, Vince. And I know Nico would feel the same if he were here." Reah assured her friend. "Just come with me out of this place. We can figure out what to do next once we are free...together."

This seemed to brighten Vince's mood to a certain degree. Though both the Prophet and Reah could sense the despair sill lingering around him.

"T-..Thank you, Reah." Was all Vince said before they both stood to their feet and turned towards the prophet.

Reah held a new look of determination in her eye's as she spoke to her would be savior in the clear and confident tone he had her to have.

"Let us proceed to safety, prophet." The priestess said. "Our fate is no longer tied here."

THERE YOU GO!

Hope you guys enjoyed this new chapter of the story.

Stick around if you want to know a little more.

From here on out, things are going to be dangerous for the prophet. There are sooooo many ways I can make this go bad or good for him?

I could pit him against his new found love interest at odds with one another In a war of team gods vs team prophet. Get the prophet imprisoned in the painted world and meeting Priscilla, forcing Oscar and the other to ring the second bell and come to his rescue. Force Velka to choose between her new love or her duties to her lord.

I am actually excited for everything I have to work with right now. Its gonna be awesome.

Also, for those of you thinking that this is just going to be the prophet strolling in and making friends, think again. Dealing with the merchant or any of the others was easy, but Gwyndolin is the child of Gwyn and will have a strong personality to represent such. And keep in mind that I'm not going to take it easy with the abilities the Dark sun possesses, he won't be OP but damn will he be strong.

Also, the prophets response to Vince's wanting to die is hinting strongly at what his backstory will be. (And no, its not going to be dead parents.)

So that's all I got for you guys. Consider this the point from which shit is about to hit the fan. Or as I like to call it, Season 2 of the Derp Edition storylline.

Review and tell me what you guys thought about this chapter. I'm always looking for outside opinions to help improve my style of writing and as always, you guys opinions will have a huge effect on how this story plays out. So don't be shy.

This is Supreme Gamer, sighing out.

P.S. Ho, ho, ho, don't you guys think I forgot about Petrus. I won't spoil what I'm gonna do, but let me just ask you guys one thing. Who do you think Vince would choose if he had the chance to return home? Petrus or Reah? :)